Preparation and properties of high temperature resistant neutron shielding poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)/boron carbide composite materials

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 331; no. 11; pp. 4695 - 4704
• Main Authors: Huang, Gu, Gong, Junjun, Xia, Wenming, Chen, Junjun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.11.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Boron carbide; Carbides; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; Diagnostic Radiology; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; High temperature; Inorganic Chemistry; Matrix materials; Monte Carlo method; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear facilities; Nuclear Physics; Nuclear reactors; Physical Chemistry; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polypropylene; Shielding; Simulation methods; Thermal neutrons; Thermodynamic properties; Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene); Monte Carlo; Neutron shielding; High temperature resistance
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08552-2

To improve properties of the nuclear reactor secondary neutron shielding material, a novel high temperature resistant shielding material was prepared, in which poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) is blended with polyethylene and polypropylene as matrix materials and boron carbide as filler. Its neutron shielding properties were analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation and tested by Am–Be neutron source. Its thermodynamic properties were tested according to standard methods. Tests show that the new material’s heat distortion temperature is up to 168 ℃, which is much higher than that of polyethylene 45 ℃ and that of polypropylene 85 ℃. The thermal neutron shielding performance of the new material is better than that of polyethylene.