Institutions (Consortium)

• Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (IChTJ), ul. Dorodna 16, 03-195 Warsaw, (leading unit, Director: Prof. Dr hab. Andrzej Chmielewski),
• National Center for Nuclear Research, Otwock (Director: Prof. K. Kurek),
• Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection, Warsaw (Director: dr P. Krajewski),
• Military Institute of Technical Armament (Director: Prof. Dr. R. Bazel),
• Inter-ministerial Institute of Radiation Technology, Lodz University of Technology (Director: Prof. Dr hab. A. Marcinek),
• Warsaw University of Technology (Vice-Rector: Prof. Dr hab. R. Bacewicz),
• ŚLCJ (Director: Prof. Dr hab. K. Rusek),
• Institute of Nuclear Physics PAS (Director: Prof. Marek Jeżabek).

Description

The RAPID Center for Research and Radiation Technology of IChTJ is an important research platform for conducting R&D for domestic and foreign scientific institutions as well as small and medium enterprises in the field of work involving chemistry and radiation technology, carried out using electron beams, accelerated in accelerators with various parameters, covering energy range from 0.2 to 10 MeV and beam power up to 20 kW. The area of ​​activity of the RAPID Center is the initiation and conduct of scientific research using unique research equipment such as pulse nanosecond radiolysis, used in interdisciplinary research in various fields of natural sciences due to its unique equipment and research capabilities. Application and implementation activities include the possibility of running processes in a continuous mass scale using technological lines including, among others radiation sterilization and radiation modification of polymers (electric wires, foams, heat-shrinkable products), as well as the possibility of using a pilot installation, particularly useful for assessing the possibility of industrial implementation of individual technological processes, and technologies related to environmental protection such as removal of impurities from the gas phase, sludge sanitation municipal, or sanitation of ocean ship ballast water.

Services

• Open access for domestic and foreign scientific communities to study mechanisms of radical processes using nanosecond impulse radiolysis, characterization of radiation modified natural and synthetic polymer materials, compounds of biological importance, nanomaterials and semiconductors.
• The RAPID Center has an installation equipped with an electron accelerator (10 MeV, 15 kW) for mass sterilization of a wide range of disposable medical devices as well as implants and transplants. Comfortable, fast, efficient and safe radiation sterilization is carried out based on the Quality Management System in accordance with the PN-EN ISO 13485 standard and GMP requirements, and according to the procedures of the PN-EN ISO 11137 standard (sterilization of materials in unit and collective packaging, short time sterilization, no toxic residue).
• The use of technological lines to guide, among others a continuous process of radiation modification of semiconductors, electrical wires as well as heat shrink tubes and tapes in order to radically improve their functional properties.
• The possibility of conducting application work prior to industrial implementations using a universal pilot installation equipped with an electron accelerator (0.2-2 MeV, 20 kW), also useful in the implementation of technologies related to environmental protection such as removal of pollutants from the gas phase, sanitation of municipal sediments and ocean ship ballast water.

Impact

Particularly important for scientific research, R&D and implementation works carried out at the RAPID Center is related to the possibility of conducting intensive domestic and foreign scientific exchange and the provision of unique services in the field of radiation technology for small and medium enterprises. It is determined by:

• Unique apparatus for conducting nanosecond impulse radiolysis, which few scientific laboratories have on a global scale.
• Modern scientific apparatus, among others for paramegnetic resonance (EPR), apparatus designed for the characterization of polymeric materials, three laboratory gamma radiation sources.
• An experienced team in the field of conducting works including R&D, implementation and technology transfer on a national, European and global scale.
• Long-term cooperation with the IAEA and international exchange based on joint projects implemented under the status of the RAPID Center as the "IAEA Collaborating Center".
• Conducting an international doctoral study.
• Accelerator base enabling the implementation of advanced technological processes into industrial practice. The RAPID Center has the only accelerator installation in the country for mass radiation sterilization of a wide range of disposable medical devices as well as implants and transplants.
• Constant cooperation with the industry in the implementation of a number of joint projects.
• RAPID Center activities for the transfer of technology, including the organization of training and seminars in the field of radiation technology for domestic and foreign participants.

Contact person:

Dr Zbigniew Zimek
RAPID Center for Radiation Research and Technology
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology
Dorodna 16 St., 03-195 Warsaw, Poland
Tel: +48 22 504 1384
Fax: + 48 22 1313
E-mail: z.zimek@ichtj.waw.pl