D&D Fixative Module Now Available

Dear <<First Name>>,

Fixatives, strippable coatings, and decontamination gels are contamination control products that have been used by DOE and the commercial nuclear industry for decades to minimize contamination on radioactive surfaces and fix contamination in place. A fixative product functions as a permanent coating to stabilize residual loose/transferrable radioactive contamination by fixing it in place; this aids in preventing the spread of contamination and reduces the possibility of the contamination becoming airborne, reducing workforce exposure and facilitating future D&D activities. Strippable coating products are used for their decontamination abilities. They are applied to surfaces with loose/transferrable radioactive contamination and peeled off once dried, removing loose/transferrable contamination along with the product and significantly reducing the residual radioactive contamination on the surface. Decontamination gels work in much the same way as other strippable coatings. The results obtained with these products is variable and depends on the type of substrate, the selected contamination control product, the contaminants, and the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.).

A D&D Fixative Module is now available on the D&D Knowledge Management Information Tool (D&D KM-IT) to assist in the selection of commercially available fixatives, strippable coatings, and decontamination gels for application during D&D activities. The module includes a comprehensive database of commercially available fixatives and other contamination control products and is capable of filtering and sorting the available products according to the criteria entered by the user. The initial product list was from the former DOE Hanford ALARA Center. This list was reviewed in order to eliminate products, which were discountinued or not commercially available, and a search was conducted to add newer commercial products which fit the criteria.

Fixative module search by product criteria.

Benefits of the D&D Fixative Module include:

1. Cuts down research time to identify contamination control products to use depending on site-specific conditions.
2. Provides an instant overview of the commercially available products filtered and sorted for the criteria entered.
3. Provides one-stop access to concise information on commercially available contamination control products.
4. Can be easily expanded to include more criteria or newly available products.

The D&D Fixative Module allows users to browse and search through the commercially available contamination control products. Simply click on the SEARCH FIXATIVE PRODUCTS button from the D&D Fixatives Module landing page, select the most important criteria and sub-criteria for the specific site application from the available drop down menus and then click on the SEARCH button. The module will automatically filter the product database and return information on the relevant products. Up to three criteria may be chosen for a particular search and include the type of product (fixative, strippable, or gel), the location where the product will be applied, the type of surface, and the preferred method of application.

The user may also search by using a basic text string search. After clicking on the SEARCH FIXATIVE PRODUCTS button from the D&D Fixatives Module landing page, click on the KEYWORD button above the selection criteria menus. Input a simple word or phrase and click SEARCH to return the applicable products.

Fixative module sample product factsheet.

The data provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any particular product, service, or vendor by FIU or the United States government. See Full Disclaimer