The Preferred Polyurethane Foam for Nuclear Waste Containers

For more than 40 years, General Plastics has shielded nuclear transportation packages from fire and damage. For nuclear material casings and shipping containers, the LAST-A-FOAM® FR-3700 Performance Core Series foams combine great impact resistance with excellent fire protection qualities.

Containing Nuclear Waste with Foam

Image Credit: General Plastics Manufacturing

General Plastics manufactures complete containers that are CNC-machined and built to the exact specifications of the customers. Customers that choose to manufacture their own liners for Type A and Type B nuclear containers can also get FR-3700 Series foam from General Plastics. The product is offered in cubic foot densities ranging from 3 to 40 pounds.

LAST-A-FOAM FR-3700: The #1 Protective Foam for Type A/Type B Containers

For applications involving nuclear material and the transportation of extremely dangerous waste, this substance has proved to be the most reliable and long-lasting insulating liner. Customers all over the world rely on the FR-3700 series foams for their unique properties, performance, quality, and life cycle traceability to secure and transport their nuclear waste. General Plastics adheres to stringent quality standards such as NQA-1 and MIL-I-45208A.

General Plastics creates custom LAST-A-FOAM® FR-3700 liners for the most common types of radioactive waste containers, including drum containers, MAP-12, OPUS, Travellers, TruPact I, II, II, UX-30 containers, and impact limiters.

Optimal Properties for Radioactive Material (RAM) Transportation Packages

This material is uncommon in its ability to absorb both mechanical and thermal energy, and it entirely satisfies RAM package criteria for energy absorption and fire exposure in accident scenarios.

The formulation has been developed to provide predictable impact-absorption capabilities under dynamic loading. At the same time, it creates an intumescent char layer that insulates and protects hazardous materials even in pool-fire circumstances.

Long-Term Physical Performance and Chemical Resistance

LAST-A-FOAM® FR-3700 outperforms wood and other polymeric materials in long-term nuclear material applications by retaining its physical properties. There was no change in compressive strength or fire-retardant qualities when a sample of 20-year-old LAST-A-FOAM® 3720 was irradiated and tested.

LAST-A-FOAM® rigid, closed-cell polyurethane products are exceptionally resistant to a broad range of chemicals and solvents. Common petroleum products like oil or gasoline have a negligible effect; exposure to liquid acids and bases does not significantly deteriorate foam properties at normal room temperatures.

Advantages

  • Mitigates both mechanical and thermal energy
  • Proven long-term performance
  • Closed cell foam with intumescent properties
  • Outperforms wood and other polymeric materials
  • Satisfies RAM package regulations
  • Provides life cycle traceability of foam
  • Resistant to most chemicals and solvents
  • Biologically inert material
  • No swelling, cracking or splitting when exposed to water
  • Stable and CFC-free

Applications

  • MAP-12, OPUS
  • Drum containers
  • Travelers
  • UX-30 containers
  • TruPact I II III
  • Impact limiters

Certifications

  • NQA-1
  • ISO 9001:2015/AS9100D
  • QC-1
  • MIL-I-45208A
  • National Nuclear Security Administration
  • ITAR compliant
  • US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • US Department of Energy

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by General Plastics Manufacturing.

For more information on this source, please visit General Plastics Manufacturing.

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