Boron containing polymers for radiation shielding

Neutrons are produced when high energy particles interact with materials. In an effort to design shielding material which contains hydrogen to reduce the energy of neutrons and boron to absorb neutrons of reduced energy, films of three polymeric materials, a polyetherimide, a polysulfone, and a polyimide were made with varying amounts of boron powder incorporated. In addition, an epoxy resin was fabricated in a 1/4 inch thick slab. All materials were made in pure form and with up to 20% by weight of boron powder. Their neutron absorbing ability was tested by surrounding a foil of indium metal with the material and irradiating with thermal neutrons. The neutron absorption by the material was noted by the decrease in the radioactivity induced in the indium foil. The glass transition temperature and the Young's modulus of the films did not change with the addition of boron. Computer calculations showed that the effectiveness of the polymer as a shield from high energy heavy ions is changed very little by the addition of boron