Method of manufacturing improved neutron absorbers

Purpose: To obtain control rods capable of suppressing swelling and having increased working life, high safety and economical advantage. Method: Boron carbide sintered body as the neutron absorber is adjusted such that the boron/carbon atomic ratio is within a range of 4.0 ± 0.2 and the average crystal grain size is of less than 5 μm. Then, for suppressing the growing of crystal grains in the course of sintering, press-sintering is applied under the conditions of a temperature at 1700 - 2200 deg C and a pressure of 100 - 500 kg/cm2. Aimed control rods can thus be obtained. If the average crystal grain size exceeds 5 μm, the diffusion rate of He formed by the neutron absorption reaction is fast at the grain boundary, whereas it is relatively low within the crystal grains. Accordingly, the He possessing amount is increased and the swelling is increased in the case of such large grain size that the grain boundary area per unit volume is relatively small. (Takahashi, M.)