Design and fabrication of high density borated polyethylene nanocomposites as a neutron shield

Background: Polyethylene composites including boron can be used as an effec ve neutron shield. Our inves ga on focuses on manufacturing borated polyethylene nano-composite. The purpose of this study is to design a radia on shield for use in both neutron and gamma fields. Materials and Methods: Borated polyethylene shields containing 2%, and 5% weight percentage of Boron nano-par cles were constructed and their neutron a$enua on was compared with pure polyethylene. Polycarbonate films were used to find the a$enua on of Am-Be neutrons a&er passing the shields. Mechanical proper es of the shields were finally compared. Results: Mean (± SD) number of α tracks induced by neutrons passing through the shields, were found to be 1.0488×10 3 ±128.98, 289.56±10 3 ×1.1972 and 1.5340×10 3 ±206.52 for polyethylene with 5% by weight, polyethylene with 2% by weight boron nano-par cles, and pure polyethylene, respec vely. The neutron spectrum a&er each shield was also obtained by MCNP4C Monte Carlo simula ons. On the other hand, borated polyethylene nano-composites showed higher tensile strength compared to that of pure polyethylene. A$enua on of neutrons measured in experiments and the result of MCNP simula on were in good agreement. Conclusion: A sta s cally significant difference was found between neutron a$enua on by borated polyethylene nanocomposite made of 5% by weight boron and pure polyethylene. However, the difference between borated polyethylene nano-composite with 5% weight and 2% wt boron was not sta s cally significant.