The PAN Institute of Fundamental Technological Research; NCBJ Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials and the Hydrobudowa-1 company are starting a 3.2 million PLN (€769,000) joint research project to modernise concrete radiation shields.
The project is welcomed by all companies that are likely to participate in development of the first nuclear power plant in Poland.
The objective of the project is to develop a new technology for producing concrete shielding with improved functionality. The technology would mean the manufacture of better concrete shields against ionising radiation used in nuclear power plants, radioactive waste repositories, nuclear chemistry labs and hospitals.
The project outcomes should include technical assessment criteria on basis of which new standards and regulations (reflecting current knowledge) might be elaborated.
For a long time concrete has been a key material used to construct shielding against penetrating ionising radiation.
Recent renewed interest in the impact of radiation on the long-term stability of concrete microstructure and tribological properties was stirred by some reports on unexpected damage of some of the concrete elements of the Seabrook (Canada) nuclear power plant and concrete quality defects discovered at the Olkiluoto (Finland) nuclear power plant development site.
The project is coordinated by Professor Michał A. Glinicki from PAN Institute of Fundamental Technological Research in Warsaw while Eng. Michał A. Gryziński is responsible for the research part to be accomplished in NCBJ. The project is scheduled to end in 2016.
