Advances in Polymeric Neutron Shielding: The Role of Benzoxazine-h-BN Nanocomposites in Nuclear Protection.

Given their substantial neutron capture cross-section, extreme hardness, and high chemical and thermal stability, boron-based materials are widely used as building blocks to protect against highly ionizing radiations such as gamma rays and neutrons. Indeed, uncontrolled nuclear radiation exposure can be highly hazardous to radiation workers and the public. In this sense, this work presents an extensive study and experimental evaluation of the nuclear shielding features of hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) based nanocomposite, where bisphenol-A based polybenzoxazine (BA-PBz) was used as matrix.

Outstanding thermal neutrons shields based on epoxy, UHMWPE fibers and boron carbide particles.

Aiming the development of advanced and lightweight thermal neutrons shields, a new hybrid composite was developed from UHMWPE fibers, epoxy and boron carbide (BC) particles. The UHMWPE fibres were chosen because of their high hydrogen contents and exceptional mechanical properties. The neutrons shielding tests were performed using an optimized experimental setup at NUR research reactor, Algiers.