Neutron shielding performance of polyethylene-7% B and Al-30 wt% B4C composites fabricated via hot-press sintering

Abstract

The current research aims to investigate the neutron shielding features of polyethylene-7% B  and Al-30 wt% B₄C composites that are fabricated via the hot-press sintering. The practical analysis was conducted via Neutron radiography and simulation through MCNP code. The results illustrated the Al-30 wt% B₄C with 5 mm thickness has equivalent neutron absorption properties with 14 mm thickness of PE-%7 B. Composites with higher density and homogenous distribution of B₄C have a better neutron shield property. Al-30 wt% B₄C Composite fabricated at 650 °C has a higher neutron absorption property. Experimental and simulation findings confirmed each other at the lower thicknesses and Al-30 wt% B₄C has better neutron shielding than PE-7% B. At thicknesses over 1 cm, the amount of cross-sectional area of polyethylene-7% B  and Al-30 wt% B₄C composites are near to each other. By increasing the thicknesses of composites, the relative total dose reduction and the shield properties of composites are enhanced.