US 12491486 B1Patent grantUnited States

Nanocomposite Gamma-Radiation Shielding

Official patent title

Radiation shielding nanocomposite

Arabic title: مركب نانوي للوقاية من الإشعاع

Invention

Problem

Radiation shields must attenuate ionizing radiation while meeting application-specific requirements for thickness, mass, mechanical integrity, manufacturability, containment, and long-term safety.

Why it matters

Alternative shielding composites could improve enclosure design, but attenuation comparisons must be reproduced across relevant energies, geometries, thicknesses, and accredited safety standards.

Approach

The disclosure disperses bismuth-oxide or tungsten-oxide nanoparticles in a zirconia matrix and forms the material into a shielding enclosure or core intended to attenuate gamma radiation.

Who may benefit

Potential beneficiaries include radiation-material researchers, medical-imaging equipment developers, nuclear and laboratory safety engineers, shielding manufacturers, and accredited test facilities.

Potential value

The patent defines zirconia composites with two high-atomic-number oxide options, particle and aggregate morphologies, elemental ranges, fabrication conditions, and stated attenuation comparisons.

Background

Radiation-shield design balances attenuation against thickness, density, structural performance, processing, and service conditions. Dense high-atomic-number materials can enhance interaction with photons, while a ceramic matrix can provide a formable host. The publication describes zirconia containing bismuth oxide or tungsten oxide and reports comparative attenuation across a stated gamma-energy interval. It does not establish accredited testing, full thickness and density normalization, broad-spectrum behavior, mechanical durability, environmental stability, nanoparticle containment, occupational exposure, device integration, certification, or life-cycle safety.

Technology overview

The matrix contains zirconia with bismuth oxide or tungsten oxide nanoparticles. The general nanoparticle range is 5–25 nm; claims specify bismuth-oxide particles of 10–16 nm in 2–20 μm needle-like aggregates and tungsten-oxide particles of 15–22 nm in 1–4 μm aggregates. Stated elemental ranges are 40–60 wt. % Zr, 20–30 wt. % O, and 20–30 wt. % Bi or W. Across 0.059–0.662 MeV, stated attenuation is 20–30% above pure zirconia for the bismuth composite and 9–12% above for the tungsten composite.

Potential applications

Laboratory gamma-shielding material evaluation.
Candidate shielding cores for instrument enclosures.
Research on medical-imaging equipment shielding.
Nuclear and radiation-laboratory barrier development.

Evidence-supported advantages

Two high-atomic-number oxide formulations are disclosed.
Nanoparticle and aggregate dimensions are specified.
Elemental composition ranges and fabrication conditions are provided.
Attenuation comparisons over a stated gamma-energy range are reported.

Development stage

Laboratory material synthesis, structural characterization, and comparative attenuation measurements are described; accredited testing, mechanical qualification, enclosure integration, manufacturing scale-up, certification, and commercial deployment were not established.

Commercial opportunity

The material may interest specialist shielding manufacturers, but stated comparisons do not establish a certified product. Commercial assessment requires independent accredited attenuation tests with controlled density, thickness, geometry, and spectrum; mechanical and aging data; encapsulation and nanoparticle-exposure controls; repeatable manufacturing; device-level validation; applicable regulatory certification; and cost benchmarking.

Patent classifications

WIPO IPC

B01J13/00Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
A61B6/10Diagnosis; surgery; identification

CPC

B01J13/0069Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysis or colloid chemistry; their relevant apparatus
A61B6/107Diagnosis; surgery; identification

Inventors

First inventorMohammad Wasef Marashdeh
InventorIslam Gamal Ibrahim Ali Alhindawy
InventorKarem Abdelazim Gaber Mahmoud
InventorMamduh Jamil Aljaafreh

Keywords

radiation shielding
zirconia
bismuth oxide
tungsten oxide
gamma attenuation
nanocomposite
shielding enclosure
high atomic number

Patent document and drawings

The patent publication is mapped to this record. Patent drawings remain within that publication; no separately cleared public media package has been supplied.