SBIR Phase I: Thermal Expansion Reduction Study of Neutron Shielding Material

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是实现更安全、更经济的核电。该项目将通过减少对反应堆部件的辐射损害和减少对电厂工人和人员的辐射暴露，帮助提高核电站的安全性。此外，它还将通过降低乏燃料管理和退役的成本来降低整个核电站生命周期的成本。通过这些手段，该项目将支持公众从继续和扩大使用核能作为一种清洁能源中获益。这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的目标是降低轻质高温中子屏蔽材料的热膨胀性能。与现有产品相比，这种材料提供的关键价值主张是，在不显著增加重量或降低中子停止功率的情况下，独特地提高了工作温度。然而，为了使其实际应用，材料必须进一步适应降低热膨胀系数，以满足反应堆设计要求。如果成功，该项目将克服降低热膨胀系数的技术障碍，同时不改变其他关键材料性能，如中子停止功率、抗辐射性、密度和最高工作温度。为了降低热膨胀系数，将探讨分别应用和必要时结合使用的三种方法。这些策略也可用于降低其他具有设计限制的中子屏蔽材料的热膨胀系数。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to enable safer and more economical nuclear power. This project will help increase the safety of nuclear power plants by reducing radiation damage to reactor components and reducing radiation exposure to power plant workers and personnel. In addition, it will reduce overall plant life cycle costs by reducing the cost of spent fuel management and decommissioning. By these means, this project will support the public benefit from continued and expanded use of nuclear power as a clean energy source.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project goal is to reduce the thermal expansion properties of a lightweight, high-temperature neutron shielding material. The key value proposition provided by this material over existing products is the unique increase in the operating temperature without producing a notable increase in weight or reduction in neutron stopping power. However, to enable its practical use, the material must be further adapted to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion to meet reactor design requirements. With success, the proposed project will overcome the technical hurdle of reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion without altering other key material properties such as neutron stopping power, radiation resistance, density, and maximum operating temperature. Three approaches applied separately and in combination, if necessary, will be explored for reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion. These strategies may also be applicable for reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion in other neutron shielding materials with design limitations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.