Designing and preparing for a 288 °c heat resistant and inhibition of gas production resin matrix nuclear radiation shielding material

Abstract

A resin matrix nuclear radiation shielding material for performing in high temperature is designed and prepared, which consists of epoxy resin, elemental boron, tungsten carbide, and graphene oxide. It was manufactured under room temperature, but it can be serviced below 288 °C, and the gas production could be retained while working. The material will be applied to a land nuclear reactor, transportable nuclear reactor, or macronuclear reactor as a neutron and gamma ray shielding material. The component of the material was designed by a genetic algorithm in combination with the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport (MCNP) software. Several blocks of the material were prepared. The TG/DTG/DSC (Thermogravimetric analysis, Derivative Thermogravimetry, and Differential Scanning Calorimeter) experiment was performed with the outgas of CO2, NH3, and H2O from the material being observed. The shielding performance of the material was examined by the MCNP software and compared with polyethylene and concrete, which, respectively, work below 90 °C and 60 °C. The scanning electron microscope experiment of the material was carried out, and the results are presented.