International Conference on X-ray and Related Technology, Icxri 2008,Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jun 2008.

CHARACTERIZATION OF BORON CARBIDE POWDER- RUBBER COMPOSITE AS THERMAL

NEUTRON RADIATION SHIELDING MATERIAL

Hafizal Yazid, A. Aziz Mohamed, *Sahrim Ahmad, W. Saffiey W. Abdullah,

Zaiton Selamat, Zahid Abdullah and Shariff Sattar

Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia),

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

*Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.

ABSTRACT

The boron carbide- rubber composite was subjected to uniaxial tensile loading condition until fracture. It
was found that the filled 10phr boron vulcunizate posses lower tensile strength as compared to unfilled
vulcunizate. The reduction is about 5.8 Mpa. This indicate that the addition of boron carbide powder act as
impurities in the rubber matrix. This is supported by fractography study as the boron carbide powder was
found not to properly bonded to the rubber matrix and in some areas, a gap was found in between the
powder and the rubber matrix. Even the reduction in tensile strength occurred, the boronated rubber was
still suitable for radiation shielding purpose as the boron carbide powder is still available in the rubber
matrix providing not to exceed its maximum tensile strength. For 10phr of boron carbide in the natural
rubber composite, the ability to completely shield against neutron was found to have 8mm thickness and
above for the neutron flux of 1.04 x 105 n/cm2s.

Keywords: Boron carbide- rubber composite, Tensile strength, Impurities, Fractography

1. Introduction

Since the discovery of x-ray by Roentgen in 1895, many researchs have been conducted to explain
the phenomena of radiation. Just 2 years after its discovery, 69 cases of skin injuries due to overexposure of
x-rays were identified. Other source of ionizing radiation was discovered by Becquerel in 1896 when he
found about radioactivity. Later the effect of ionizing radiation in sufficient quantity on living cells were
realized. Thus the development of radiation shielding material become a subject of interest to prevent the
harmfull effect of the ionizing radiation. Radiations are attenuated (weakened) by a combination of
slowing, scattering, and absorption processes as they pass through materials. The variation in attenuation
through different parts of an object forms the basis for radiation imaging. The most widely used and
commonly known form of radiation imaging is the x-radiograph, gamma-radiograph and neutron-
radiograph. Neutrons, discovered in 1932, are electrically neutral particles similar in mass to a proton and
present in the nuclei of all elements except hydrogen. Neutron imaging is commonly done today using
neutrons that have an average energy of about 0.025 electronvolts. These neutrons are generated from
fission reaction produced in a nuclear reactor or from the decay of a radioisotope. Most imaging
applications using thermal neutrons exploit their strong interaction with hydrogen. In Malaysia, thermal
neutron are generated from MINT TRIGA MARK II research reactor. The reactor is a swimming pool-type
light water research reactor using enriched uranium-zirconium-hydride fuel and reflected by graphite.
There are three radial beam ports, one tangential beam port and one thermal column as shown in Fig. 1.

Table 1: The performance characteristic of NUR-II

Power 750kWatts
L/D ratio Between 37– 200
Thermal neutron flux at sample 1.04x105 ncm-2sec-1
Gamma dose rate at outlet of collimator 367mSvh-1