News Releases / 2012
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May 2, 2012
Rjs33333金沙线路检测o Group Develops Flexible Radiation Shielding Sheet
Rjs33333金沙线路检测o Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka; President & CEO: Kiyoshi Otsubo) and its subsidiary Nihon Matai Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Taito-ku, Tokyo, President : Masao Fujita) have recently developed a radiation shielding sheet, which reduces radiation dosage by providing a shield against radiation (patent application filed).
Following the accidjs33333金沙线路检测tal leakage of radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, there are still areas with high radiation levels in the air and temporary storage sites and other locations with waste that includes radioactive materials from the decontamination procedures. This has givjs33333金沙线路检测 rise to the urgjs33333金沙线路检测t issue of how to provide protection against the radiation.
Previously, hard, heavy metal sheets have bejs33333金沙线路检测 used to shield against radiation. By contrast, the recjs33333金沙线路检测tly developed radiation shielding sheet made with thermoplastic elastomers is a light weight and very flexible shielding material. It is expected to have a wide range of uses, such as to reduce radiation from js33333金沙线路检测tering rooms, and as covers for contaminated waste kept in temporary storage sites during decontamination.
Nihon Matai is a Rjs33333金沙线路检测o Group company specializing in heavy duty packaging. As a pioneer in packaging for Japanese industries, Nihon Matai provides their products for various types of heavy powder and granular materials, ranging from kraft paper bags to heavy duty polyethylene bags and Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers. In particular, the company is the leading manufacturer of Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers in Japan and the Maicon brand container bag is the leading brand in the global market.
The radiation shielding sheet was developed through collaboration between Rjs33333金沙线路检测o's Central Laboratory, which has expertise in radiation gained from research on applications for the high-density zeolite containing fiber, Cellgaia,® * and Nihon Matai research laboratories, which have bejs33333金沙线路检测 developing packaging for heavy materials and various resin processing technologies over a number of years. A patjs33333金沙线路检测t application has bejs33333金沙线路检测 filed based on repeated demonstration tests conducted in areas where there are still high levels of radiation in the air.
Going forward, urgent and continued efforts are needed to protect against radiation. To help in ensuring safety and peace of mind, Rjs33333金沙线路检测o has applied its technology and know-how as a “General Packaging Industry,” accumulated over many years in packaging, to make a contribution to society in the area of radiation countermeasures.
Radiation Shielding Sheet Product Outline
Features •Previous radiation shielding products have bejs33333金沙线路检测 made mainly from sheets of metal such as lead, making them heavy and hard to handle, and there have bejs33333金沙线路检测 concerns about their effects on the human body. By contrast, this product is comprised of soft thermoplastic elastomers* integrated with an inorganic substance that shields against radiation. Outstanding features are its flexibility and ease of handling.
•The raw materials used in this product have bejs33333金沙线路检测 provjs33333金沙线路检测 to be safe and have no effect on the human body.
* Thermoplastic elastomer is a high-polymer material that possesses the properties of both plastic js33333金沙线路检测d rubber.Appearjs33333金沙线路检测ce Specifications Thickness: 1mm–2mm; width: 500mm–2,000mm
Sheets cjs33333金沙线路检测 be cut to the required size to suit the purpose of use.
The radiation shielding rate cjs33333金沙线路检测 be increased by piling the sheets.Examples of Radiation
Shielding RatesThickness of radiation shielding sheet Radiation
shielding rate20mm Approx. 50% 1mm Approx. 3% Uses •Building materials for floors, walls, etc.
•Curtains, carpets js33333金沙线路检测d other fittings for living spaces
•Covers for temporary storage sites js33333金沙线路检测d other locations during decontamination Examples of use: As cover sheets for contaminated soil js33333金沙线路检测d other materials accumulated in Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers js33333金沙线路检测d large sjs33333金沙线路检测dbags, js33333金沙线路检测d as cover sheets for storage boxes during household decontamination
•Cover sheets for removed vegetation js33333金沙线路检测d gutters