Evaluation of Hypalon® and polyurethane for use in plutonium glovebox environments

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dc.contributor.advisorLandsberger, Sheldon
dc.creatorGriffin, Matthew Alden
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-29T16:05:17Z
dc.date.available2017-06-29T16:05:17Z
dc.date.issued2006-05
dc.description.abstractNuclear gloveboxes provide a physical barrier between workers and harmful materials. Breaches in gloveboxes may result in lab contamination or even internal uptakes of toxic materials. Such incidents result in both man hours wasted and hazardous working conditions. Therefore, a premium must be set on limiting glovebox breaches. Most glovebox breaches results from tears and punctures in the gloves. In an attempt to decrease these failures, an examination of standard Hypalon gloves against a combination glove made of Hypalon and polyurethane was conducted. Initial comparisons involved mechanical testing utilizing both tensile testing and puncture testing. Additionally, thermal aging techniques were employed to simulate aging characteristics of the polymers. Also, in order to replicate glovebox environments radiation damage studies were carried out involving both a Plutonium-Beryllium neutron source and a ²⁴⁴Cm alpha source. After the comparison of standard Hypalon gloves against combination gloves made of Hypalon and polyurethane had been conducted, it was evident that the combination glove outperformed the pure Hypalon in every study except the radiation studies. This research creates a safer working environment by explaining material properties of current gloves and furthering knowledge in the field of nuclear materials. In particular, this research will help line managers at Los Alamos choose the proper glove for use in the glovebox environment, as well as implement a much needed glove changing policy.en_US
dc.description.departmentMechanical Engineeringen_US
dc.format.mediumelectronicen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.15781/T2736M850
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/47372
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.relation.ispartofUT Electronic Theses and Dissertationsen_US
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.en_US
dc.rights.restrictionRestricteden_US
dc.subjectNuclear gloveboxesen_US
dc.subjectBreaches in gloveboxesen_US
dc.subjectLab contaminationen_US
dc.titleEvaluation of Hypalon® and polyurethane for use in plutonium glovebox environmentsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
thesis.degree.departmentMechanical Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at Austinen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen_US

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