Novel Nuclear Radiation Protection Blanket

A “dirty bomb” is a “radiological dispersal device” (RDD) that combines a conventional explosive with radioactive material. Protection from radiation emitted by a RDD will require shielding for first-responders and military personnel who must walk into an environment recently exposed to such explosions for decontamination. The garments currently available in the market are not suitable for such situations. A new breathable and flexible resistant fabric that can shield radiation emitted from radioactive materials such as Cs-137 and Co-60 is therefore required. In the proposed Phase I effort, Materials Modification, Inc. will fabricate a novel breathable blanket made from radiation resistant material and evaluate its radiation shielding property against Cs-137 gamma radiation. In the Phase II, radiation resistant fabrics developed in Phase I will be stitched into radiation blocking garments suitable for extended wear.