The design of a novel neutron shielding B4C/Al composite containing Gd

Abstract Equivalent amount of B ( B Eq ) can be used to evaluate the thermal neutron shielding property of materials. Based on the calculation of B Eq , a novel boron carbide and gadolinium particles reinforced Al composite (15%B 4 C + 1%Gd)/Al was designed. The composite was successfully prepared by vacuum hot pressing method. The B 4 C particles and Gd phase were homogeneously distributed in the Al matrix. The Monte Carlo Particle transport program MCNP simulation and thermal neutron shielding tests demonstrated that the (15%B 4 C + 1%Gd)/Al composite definitely had an almost equivalent neutron shielding property as the 30%B 4 C/Al composite, which in turn proved the accuracy of the design. The macroscopic transmission cross section ( Σ ) of (15%B 4 C + 1%Gd)/Al composite was as high as 21.3 cm − 1 , which was better than that of 30%B 4 C/Al composite. Tension tests indicated that by decreasing B 4 C content, the elongation of the composite reached as much as 9%. The addition of Gd can replace a part of B 4 C content in the composite, which can increase the plasticity of the composite, and keep the neutron shielding property simultaneously.

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