Potential use of NR and wood/NR composites as thermal neutron shielding materials
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Author list: Ninyong K., Wimolmala E., Sombatsompop N., Saenboonruang K.
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2017
Journal: Polymer Testing (0142-9418)
Volume number: 59
Start page: 336
End page: 343
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0142-9418
Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)
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Abstract
This work investigated thermal neutron shielding, cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR) and wood/NR composites with addition of either boron oxide (B2O3) or boric acid (H3BO3) for potential use as flexible shielding materials. The results showed that increase in the B2O3 or H3BO3 content from 0 to 80 phr and 0–50 phr in 10-phr increments, respectively, could improve thermal neutron shielding properties but reduced overall tensile properties, while the addition of 20-phr wood particles in wood/NR composites improved surface hardness and dimensional stability. Furthermore, the values of the Half Value Layer (HVL), which represent the required thickness of material to attenuate half of the incoming neutrons, were evaluated at a content of 80-phr B2O3 by varying thickness of both NR and wood/NR composites from 2.5 mm to 20.0 mm in 2.5-mm increments. The results indicated that the HVL values were approximately the same at 3.5 mm. Hence, the overall properties investigated in this work suggested great potential of these composites to be used as effective thermal neutron shielding materials. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords
Neutron shielding, Radiation protective agent, Radiation shielding, Wood/natural rubber
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