US 12,260,966 B2
Method of protecting radioactive waste from reaching criticality by using a controller that when contacted by water provides borates that absorb neutrons
Yongliang Xiong, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/114,340.
Application 18/114,340 is a division of application No. 16/924,711, filed on Jul. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,721,448.
Prior Publication US 2023/0282383 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. G21C 19/40 (2006.01); G21F 9/22 (2006.01); G21F 9/24 (2006.01); G21F 9/36 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 19/40 (2013.01) [G21F 9/22 (2013.01); G21F 9/24 (2013.01); G21F 9/36 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for protecting radioactive material from reaching a criticality from contact with water, the method comprising:
holding the radioactive material in a container, wherein within the container is a sub-criticality controller having a metallic composition comprising a metal component and a borate component bonded to the metal component; and
contacting the metallic composition with the water to react the metal component and the borate component to form a second borate of the metal component and the borate component;
wherein the second borate is selected from the group consisting of cadmium borate, zinc borate, manganese borate, cobalt borate, nickel borate, copper borate, tin borate, bismuth borate, antimony borate, magnesium borate, lead metaborate hydrate, cadmium metaborate, zinc metaborate, manganese metaborate, iron metaborate, cobalt metaborate, nickel metaborate, copper metaborate, tin metaborate, bismuth metaborate, sodium tetraborate hydrate and antimony metaborate.