PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02)

Description

G21F covers shielding systems, protective devices, and structural arrangements designed to attenuate or block ionizing radiation including X-rays, gamma rays, and particle beams. This subclass encompasses radiation shielding materials, barrier designs, protective clothing, and biological shielding solutions for personnel and equipment in nuclear facilities, medical environments, and industrial applications. G21F also includes methods and apparatus for decontamination of radioactively contaminated materials, facilities, and equipment, as well as techniques for treating or neutralizing radioactive contamination. Adjacent classifications such as G21C (nuclear reactor core engineering) and G21H (controlled thermonuclear fusion) are distinguished by their focus on reactor operation rather than radiation protection itself.