(Fwd) News Release from Brookhaven National Lab

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

NEWS RELEASE
number: 00-53   
for release: Tuesday, July 18, 2000
contact: Karen McNulty, 631 344-8350, or Mona S. Rowe, 631 344-5056

Uranium Encapsulation Process Receives Patent

UPTON, NY < Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energyıs Brookhaven 
National Laboratory have been awarded U.S. patent number 6,030,549 
for inventing a process for encapsulating depleted uranium oxides in 
thermoplastic polymers. The process converts depleted uranium to a 
form that is both stable and safe for long-term disposal. The 
encapsulated uranium could also have several useful applications, 
including the production of radiation shielding and counter weights 
for airplanes, helicopters and ships.

Depleted uranium (DU) is a by-product of enriching uranium ore to 
make fuel for nuclear reactors. Storing DU requires labor-intensive 
and costly maintenance. The Brookhaven Lab process uses uranium oxide 
powder, a more stable, but dispersible compound, which is converted 
from the reactive form through chemical processing and combined with 
a thermoplastic binder. The final product can be formed into shapes 
and is cooled to form a dense solid.

³By creating safe, secondary end-use products from these materials, 
we are addressing health and safety, environmental protection, and 
waste reduction issues,² says Paul Kalb, the Senior Research Engineer 
who is leading this work for Brookhavenıs Environmental Research and 
Technology Division.

BNLıs patented process for encapsulation requires simultaneous 
heating and mixing of depleted uranium powders and non-biodegradable 
thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Virgin 
or recycled polymers can be used. The result is a homogeneous mixture 
of depleted uranium and molten thermoplastic polymer, which can be 
molded into any shape.

Tests performed by the Brookhaven scientists reveal that the new 
material, composed of anywhere from 10 to 90 percent depleted uranium 
by weight, is strong and durable. And because it is largely 
impermeable to water, it does not leach radioactive material.

The heavy material can be molded to form counterweights/ballast for 
use in airplanes, helicopters, ships, missiles, flywheels, armor, and 
projectiles.

Because of the density of uranium, the product is also an excellent 
shield against gamma radiation. The presence of hydrogen in the 
plastic makes it an effective shield against neutron radiation as 
well. And since the product has a much lower percentage of 
fissionable uranium (U-235) compared with natural uranium ore, the 
levels of residual radioactivity are very low.

The material could therefore be useful in the construction of storage 
vaults and casks for radioactive materials or in providing protection 
for workers and the public at particle accelerator beamstops and 
targets.

³We are currently working with the Brookhaven Office of Technology 
Transfer to identify potential industrial partners and opportunities 
for commercial development,² says Kalb. 
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The U.S. Department of Energyıs Brookhaven National Laboratory 
creates and operates major facilities available to university, 
industrial and government personnel for basic and applied research in 
the physical, biomedical and environmental sciences and in selected 
energy technologies. The Laboratory  is operated by Brookhaven 
Science Associates, a not-for-profit research management company, 
under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
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