High density polyethylene/boron carbide composites for neutron shielding

Abstract

Composites of high density polyethylene with three different amounts of modified boron carbide namely: 7 phr (parts per hundred parts of resin), 15 phr and 24 phr have been prepared. These composites show excellent thermal neutron shielding properties which increase with the increase of boron content in the composites matrix. Moreover, the effects of boron carbide on the mechanical properties, the effect of thermal oxidative aging on mechanical properties and swelling of composites in different solvents have also been studied in these composites.