Effects of Irradiation on Thermal Properties of Polyurethane Foam

Technical Report · Thu Jul 29 04:00:00 EDT 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1813937· OSTI ID:1813937

Barjesteh, Taraneh ^[1]; Truong, Thanh-Tam T. ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)

Polyurethane foam is used as a thermal insulator, fire protective material, and impact absorber in the 9977 shipping package. The 9977 shipping package is used to transport special nuclear materials (SNM), and store SNM in the K-area complex at the Savannah River Site. The primary fire-retardant mechanism in the foam is that it produces intumescent char when exposed to high temperatures. Intumescence occurs in the direction of heat application and can allow the foam to “repair” cracks in the event of a mechanical impact, in addition to serving as a secondary thermal barrier with decreased heat conductivity. Because the foam is being used for long-term storage applications, it is vital that it retain its physical, thermal, and mechanical properties over the course of time and with the events of exposure of heat and irradiation. The goal of this project was to determine the effects of gamma irradiation on the thermal properties of polyurethane foam, both in terms of cumulative irradiation and rate of irradiation. At the dose rates and cumulative doses of irradiation measured, there was no correlation between higher cumulative irradiation and thermal stability, specific heat capacity, or chemical structure. Based on the results of the experiments, the fire protective properties in the 9977 shipping containers should be retained with the expected amount of radiation exposure.

• Research Organization: Savannah River National Lab (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: 89303321CEM000080
• OSTI ID: 1813937
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2021-00376
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE