Safer low-cost nuclear material storage through cold-spray formed boron carbide coated components (SAFESTORE)

通过冷喷涂形成的碳化硼涂层组件更安全、低成本的核材料储存（SafeStore）乏核燃料的运输和/或储存可能需要中子屏蔽材料。目前使用的两种这样的材料是由铝（或铝合金）组成的复合板材料，其中含有不同比例的碳化硼颗粒，具有很高的中子吸收能力。虽然这些金属基复合材料（MMC）材料适用于特定的利基应用，但目前的制造路线无法生产除平面固体板以外的任何材料。这限制了容器/罐的设计选择。在SafeStore项目中，冷喷涂技术被用于开发一种类似于MMC的材料，但可以应用于任何所需厚度的金属板材制造，厚度可达数十毫米。冷喷涂技术有助于热敏性和/或容易氧化的材料，如Al和B4C的共沉积，而不会热降解。该涂层被开发并应用于钢样品和钢板，然后进一步改进沉积参数，以获得更高水平的B4C涂层。使用涂层的结果是更好的设计灵活性，因此更好，更具成本效益的干桶存储选择。该项目由格雷厄姆工程公司牵头，这是一家总部位于英国的公司，在供应核废料燃料容器方面有着良好的记录。TWI公司负责涂料的开发工作，而Graham工程公司则帮助确定市场需求，并促进涂料放射性能的表征和评估。项目参与者和TSB补助金graham Engineering Ltd -补助金27,000英镑twi Ltd（工业）-补助金67,500英镑总补助金= 94,500英镑

Safer, low-cost nuclear material storage through cold spray-formed boron carbide coated components (SafeStore)Transport and/or storage of spent nuclear fuel can require neutron shielding materials. Two such materials currently used are composite plate materials consisting of aluminium (or aluminium alloys) containing varying proportions of boron carbide particulates, which have a high neutron absorbing capability. Whilst these metal matrix composite (MMC) materials are suitable for specific niche applications, the current manufacturing route is unable to produce them in anything other than flat solid plates. This limits the design options for containers/canisters.In the SafeStore project, cold spray coating technology was used to develop a material that is similar to the MMC but can be applied to sheet metal fabrications in any desired thickness up to tens of millimetres. Cold spray technology facilitates the co-deposition of thermally sensitive and/or easily oxidised materials such as Al and B4C without thermal degradation. The coatings were developed and applied to steel samples and plates and the deposition parameters were then further improved to obtain higher levels of B4C in the coatings.The use of a coating results in better design flexibility and hence better and more cost-effective dry cask storage options. The project was led by Graham Engineering, a UK-based company with a strong track record in the supply of nuclear waste fuel containers. TWI conducted the coatings development work whilst Graham Engineering helped define the market needs and facilitated the characterisation and evaluation of the radiological performance of the coatings.Project Participants and TSB GrantGraham Engineering Ltd – Grant £27,000TWI Ltd(Industrial) – Grant £67,500Total Grant = £94,500