OPTIMIZATION OF FABRICATION CONDITION OF METAL CASK NEUTRON SHIELDING PART WHICH APPLIED SIMULATION OF CURING BEHAVIOR OF EPOXY RESIN

A new neutron shielding resin was developed for a dual-purpose metal cask. The resin is composed of a cycloaliphatic epoxy, anhydrous acid, catalyst, aluminum hydroxide, and boron tetracarbide. Because the curing reaction of the resin was moderate at room temperature, a large amount of resin was treated at one time and the frequency of mixing of the components and pouring the resin into the cask was reduced. The feasibility of a fabrication process for treating a large volume of resin was investigated using a chemical reaction simulation and mock-up test. The results of the mock-up test were that no significant voids or cracks were found in the resin, and uniform elemental composition was found. A simulation method we created was effective in predicting the curing behavior of our resin and is suitable for optimizing the fabrication conditions of the resin in the metal cask.