Preparation, shielding properties and mechanism of a novel neutron shielding material made from natural Szaibelyite resource

In this paper, different amounts of Szaibelyite (100, 300, 500, 700 and 900) were used to prepare Szaibelyite/epoxy resin composites for neutron shielding. Microstructures of fracture surfaces of the prepared composites were tested by scanning electron microscope while the neutron shielding properties were determined by Am-Be neutron source. It was found that the shielding percentage of all composites increases with the addition of Szaibelyite as well as the thickness of composites increment. M5 was found to be the best neutron shielding composite, the shielding percentage was nearly 100% when the thickness of M5 chosen to be 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the shielding mechanism of M5 for neutron shielding could be concluded as follows: Firstly, H, O, C, Fe and B-11 isotope contained in M5 slowed down the neutron to thermal neutron, which then absorbed by the B-10 isotope. According to the achieved results, the performance of the new neutron shielding material owns the value of practical application.