The effect of the ceramic amount on the radiation shielding properties of metal-matrix composite coatings

In this study, Ni-B metal matrix composite coatings reinforced with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanoparticles were fabricated on 304L steel substrate with electrochemical deposition method. The volume fraction of hBN was 6-26%. The phase and morphological characteristics were determined via XRD and FE-SEM, respectively. Ni-B/hBN composite coatings were irradiated with Am-241, Sr-90 and Co-60 radioactive sources, which are typical alpha, beta and gamma-ray sources, respectively. Percent absorption rates were acquired according to the hBN volume fractions of each irradiated sample. Accordingly, it was found that the absorption rates also raised as the volume fractions of the hBN in the coating increased. In order to control the findings, stopping power and range values were procured with SRIM and ESTAR databases. Similar to the absorption rate, increasing volume fractions increased the stopping power and decreased the range values. Nuclear radiation shielding properties of metal matrix composite materials are presented here for the first time. This study revealed the importance of Ni-B/hBN composite coatings in terms of radiation shielding properties. •Ni-B metal matrix doped hexagonal boron nitride was produced on steel substrate.•The XRD and SEM images of materials fabricated were analyzed.•These materials were irradiated with Am-241, Sr-90 and Co-60 radioactive sources.•The absorption rates raised as the volume fractions of the samples increased.•The results were determined to be compatible with the studies in the literature.