High efficiency shield array

1. A radiation shield comprising:

a first layer comprising a neutron moderating material;

a second layer adjacent the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a particulate neutron absorbing material dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the particulate neutron absorbing material comprises at least one neutron absorbing material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, a gadolinium compound, boron, and a boron compound;

a third layer adjacent the second layer, wherein the third layer comprises a photonic radiation attenuating material; and

wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer are removable from the radiation shield.

2. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is intermediate the first layer and the third layer.

3. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the neutron moderating material of the first layer comprises a hydrogen-rich polymer.

4. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the neutron moderating material of the first layer comprises polyethylene.

5. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the third layer is removable from the radiation shield.

6. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is bonded to the second layer, and wherein the first and second layers are removable from the radiation shield as a single unit.

7. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric binder includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyester, a silicone, a thermoplastic elastomer, and an epoxy.

8. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a layer of neutron absorbing metal or alloy.

9. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a layer of at least one of a neutron absorbing gadolinium alloy and a neutron absorbing boron alloy.

10. The radiation shield of claim 9 , wherein the alloy further comprises at least one of copper and aluminum.

11. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises one of a metal or alloy layer that is at least one of rolled and cast.

12. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the third layer comprises a particulate photonic radiation attenuating material dispersed in a second polymeric binder.

13. The radiation shield of claim 12 , wherein the particulate photonic radiation attenuating material comprises tungsten.

14. The radiation shield of claim 12 , wherein the second polymeric binder includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyester, a silicone, a thermoplastic elastomer, and an epoxy.

15. The radiation shield of claim 1 , wherein the third layer comprises a tungsten heavy alloy.

16. A device for attenuating radiation comprising at least a first radiation shield panel, the first radiation shield panel comprising:

a first layer comprising a neutron moderating material;

a second layer adjacent the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a particulate neutron absorbing material dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the particulate neutron absorbing material comprises at least one neutron absorbing material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, a gadolinium compound, boron and a boron compound; and

a third layer adjacent the second layer, wherein the third layer comprises a photonic radiation attenuating material;

and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer are removable from the first radiation shield panel.

17. The device of claim 16 , further comprising a second radiation shield panel, wherein the first radiation shield panel comprises a first edge and the second radiation shield panel comprises a second edge, and wherein the first edge and the second edge include interlocking features forming an interface between the first radiation shield panel and the second radiation shield panel.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a radiation-emitting source; and

a radiation shield adjacent the radiation-emitting source, the radiation shield comprising:

a first layer comprising a neutron moderating material;

a second layer adjacent the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a particulate neutron absorbing material dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the particulate neutron absorbing material comprises at least one neutron absorbing material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, a gadolinium compound, boron, and a boron compound; and

a third layer adjacent the second layer, wherein the third layer comprises a photonic radiation attenuating material;

and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer are removable from the radiation shield panel.

19. A method of shielding an object from a radiation source, the method comprising:

placing a radiation shield intermediate the object and the radiation source, wherein the radiation shield comprises:

a first layer comprising a particulate neutron absorbing material dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the particulate neutron absorbing material comprises at least one neutron absorbing material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, a gadolinium compound, born, and a boron compound, and

a second layer comprising a photonic radiation attenuating material;

monitoring the neutron transmissivity of the radiation shield; and

replacing at least a portion of the first layer when the neutron transmissivity of the radiation shield exceeds a predetermined value.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second layer further comprises a neutron moderating material.

21. A radiation shield comprising:

a first layer comprising a particulate neutron absorbing material dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the particulate neutron absorbing material comprises at least one neutron absorbing material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, a gadolinium compound, boron, and a boron compound;

a second layer adjacent the first layer, wherein the second layer Comprises a photonic radiation attenuating material; and

wherein the first layer is removable from the radiation shield.

22. The radiation shield of claim 21 , wherein the polymeric binder comprises a hydrogen rich polymer.

23. The radiation shield of claim 22 wherein the hydrogen rich polymer includes polyethylene.

24. The radiation shield of claim 21 , wherein the polymeric binder includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polyester, a silicone, a thermoplastic elastomer, and an epoxy.

25. The radiation shield of claim 21 , wherein the third layer comprises a tungsten heavy alloy.

26. The radiation shield of claim 21 , wherein the third layer comprises a particulate photonic radiation attenuating material dispersed in a second polymeric binder.

27. The radiation shield of claim 26 , wherein the particulate photonic radiation attenuating material comprises tungsten.