Neutron shielding of EPDM rubber with boric acid: Mechanical, thermal properties and neutron absorption tests

Ozdemir T., Akbay I. K., Uzun H., Reyhancan İ. A.

PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY, cilt.89, ss.102-109, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 89
  • Basım Tarihi: 2016
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.02.007
  • Dergi Adı: PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.102-109
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Neutron, Shielding, Boric acid, Polymer, Rubber, RADIATION SHIELDS, DOSE-RATE, IRRADIATION, VULCANIZATION, COMPOSITES, PEROXIDES, FLUX
  • İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

It is well known that the materials with boron content are very effective in thermal neutron absorption and high hydrogen content is also a desirable case for the thermal neutron shielding. Ethylene Propylene Diene Termonomer (EPDM) rubber is a good candidate material for neutron shielding due to its hydrogen content. In this study, EPDM rubber with boric acid was prepared and thermal and mechanical tests were carried out and the changes in the thermal and mechanical properties were studied, explicitly. Moreover, vulcanization kinetics was investigated in order to understand the change in the vulcanization behaviour with the boric acid addition. Microwave assisted sol gel analysis and conventional Soxhlet extraction tests were completed to determine the gel content of the polymer composite. Theoretical and experimental neutron absorption test results were compared and the results have shown and that they were comparable with each other. It was concluded that EPDM with boric acid is an effective neutron moderating material. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.