Lightweight and heat resistant resin-based composite neutron shielding material

In this research, a lightweight neutron shielding material was developed, which consists of epoxy resin, elemental boron and graphene oxide. The newly designed material is lower than pure water in density, and it performs better at resisting heat than regular materials. It can be applied to neutron sources for neutron shielding, such as the BNCT and D-D neutron sources. Its components were first simulated and designed by MCNP, and then several blocks of the material were manufactured at room temperature, after which the thermal property, that is, the TG/DTG result, of the material was tested and shown. In addition, the research also examined the gas, CO2, NH3 and H2O, emitted from the material at different temperatures. The shielding performance of the material was later tested by MCNP software and compared with that of polyethylene (PE) which only works under 90°C. At last, the thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion and stretching rate of the material were studied and the results were presented.