Analysis of boron epoxy resin composite in morphology, neutron radiography, and thermal neutron shielding performance

This study aims to analyze the effect of boron fillers in epoxy resin composites. Three samples of the shield were prepared: pure epoxy resin, epoxy resin with 5 %wt boron, and epoxy resin with 10 %wt boron. The morphology of the samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The dispersion of the boron powder was observed using neutron radiography. The samples were also tested with a thermal neutron attenuation experiment using the TRIGA Mk-II reactor in the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. The SEM images show that boron affected the structure of the base resin matrix. Agglomerates and white spots can be observed which might be the boron filler. The radiographs reveal several dark spots in the composite, suggesting the inhomogeneity of the boron powder. From the attenuation experiment results, the transmission ratio, the removal cross-section, the mean free path, the half-value layer, and the tenth-value layer were calculated. It was found that increasing the boron content improved the shielding performance of the base epoxy resin by at least 21% if 5 %wt boron was added. •5 %wt boron improves neutron attenuation of epoxy resin by at least 21%.•Agglomerates of boron could be observed using SEM and radiography.•Thermal neutron shielding parameters for the epoxy resin composite were calculated.