Shielding

Name:
Shielding
Detailed information:
Protection of personnel from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation and/or neutrons by enclosure of the equipment (reactor, particle accelerator, X-ray generator, etc.) with an absorbing material. The most efficient of these are cadmium, lead, steel, and high-density concrete (3 ft of concrete equals about 1 ft of steel). Among the plastics, polyethylene affords reasonable protection in thick sheets. Water and paraffin wax are good neutron absorbers because of their high hydrogen content. Materials such as graphite and beryllium are able to deflect and retard neutrons and are used for this purpose as moderators in nuclear reactors. Heavy water is also used.