Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Comparison of performance of composites and nanocomposites based on high-density polyethylene and boron nitride for neutron shielding

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S.J. Ahmadi 1
Z. Rafiei-Sarmazdeh 2
S.M. Zahedi-Dizaji 3
S.H. jafari 4
Y. Kasesaz 5

1 Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran- Iran

2 Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-3486, Tehran- Iran

3 Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14399-51113, Tehran-Iran

4 School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O.Box: 11155-4563, Tehran- Iran

5 Reactor and Nuclear Safety Research School,. Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14155-1339, Tehran- Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2021.1299
Abstract
In the present study, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and HDPE/Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) nanocomposites with different contents were fabricated using the melt mixing method. The morphology, properties, and mechanical and thermal performance of composites and nanocomposites containing boron nitride were investigated. Also, the neutron shielding performance of the designed composites was investigated using the thermal column of the Tehran Research Reactor and foil activation method. The results were compared with those of using pure HDPE. HDPE/BNNSs nanocomposites have shown higher modulus and tensile strength, higher thermal stability, and better neutron shielding performance than HDPE/hBN. The results showed that by reaching hBN content to 0.5 wt. %, the neutron shielding of the composite was improved by 25% compared with the pure HDPE. However, there is a 43% increase in neutron absorption by nanocomposites compared with HDPE. The result of this work is expected to cause a natural synergy between applied nanocomposite and neutron shields and lead to the commercial production of Leigh-weight, inexpensive, and effective neutron-shield nanocomposites.

Highlights

1.  C. Harrison et al., Polyethylene/Boron Nitride Composites for Space Radiation Shielding, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 109, 2529 (2008).

 

2.    S.J. Park, J.G. Jang, and H.K. Lee, Computational investigation of the neutron shielding and activation characteristics of borated concrete with polyethylene aggregate, J. Nucl. Mater. 452, 205 (2014).

 

3.    M.H. Kharita, S. Yousef, and M. AlNassar, Review on the addition of boron compounds to radiation shielding concrete, Prog. Nucl. Energy, 53(2), 207 (2011).

 

4.   C. Zeitlin et al. Measurements of materials shielding properties with 1 GeV/nuc 56Fe, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B, 252, 308 (2006).

 

5.    L. Li, Y. Chen, and Z.H. Stachurski, Boron nitride nanotube reinforced polyurethane composites, Prog. Nat. Sci.: Mater. Int. 23(2), 170 (2013).

 

6.  C. Zhi et al. Characteristics of boron nitride nanotube-polyaniline composite, Angew. Chem. Int. 44, 7929 (2005).

 

7.    J. Yu et al. Interfacial modification of boron nitride nanoplatelets for epoxy composites with improved thermal properties, Polymer. 53(2), 471 (2012).

 

8.    A.M. Sukegawa et al. Flexible heat resistant neutron shielding resin, J. Nucl. Mater. 417, 850 (2011).

 

9.   G. Eid et al. Neutron shielding using Li3BO3/Epoxy Composite, Researcher, 3, 85 (2011).

 

10.  C. Zhi et al. Boron nitride nanotubes/polystyrene composite, J. Mater. Res. 21(11), 2794 (2006).

 

11. Y. Mülazim, C. Kızılkaya, and M. Kahraman, Thermal and neutron shielding properties of 10B2O3/polyimide hybrid material, Polym. Bull. 67(9), 1741 (2011).

 

12.  C. Harrison et al. Polyethylene∕Boron Composites for Radiation Shielding Applications, AIP, 969, 484 (2008).

 

13.  J. Jung et al. Preparations and thermal properties of micro- and nano-BN dispersed HDPE composites, Thermochim. Acta, 499, 8 (2010).

 

14.  Y.K. Shin et al. Effect of BN filler on thermal properties of HDPE matrix composites, Ceram. Int. 39, S569 (2013).

 

15. J. Ahn et al. Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Boron Carbide Ceramics by Methanol Washed Powder, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1224, 1224 (2009)

 

16.  Z. Rafiei-Sarmazdeh, S.M. Zahedi-Dizaji, and A.K. Kang, in: Nanostructures, Edited by S. Ameen, (IntechOpen, London, 2019), pp.1-15.

 

17.  Y. Lin, and J.W. Connell, Advances in 2D boron nitride nanostructures: nanosheets, nanoribbons, nanomeshes, and hybrids with graphene, Nanoscale, 4(22), 6908 (2012).

 

18.  X. Wang et al. Boron Nitride Nanosheets: novel Syntheses and Applications in polymeric Composites, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 471, 012003 (2013).

 

19.  D. Golberg et al. Boron nitride nanotubes and nanosheets, ACS Nano, 4(6), 2979 (2010).

 

20.  Q. Weng et al. Functionalized hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials: emerging properties and applications, Chem. Soc. Rev, 45, 3989 (2016).

 

21.  J.W. Shin et al. Polyethylene/boron-containing composites for radiation shielding, Thermochim. Acta, 585, 5 (2014).

 

22.  J. Kim et al. Enhancement of thermal neutron attenuation of nano-B4C, -BN dispersed neutron shielding polymer nanocomposites, J. Nucl. Mater. 453(1), 48 (2014).

 

23.  Z. Rafiei-Sarmazdeh et al. Large-scale exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride with combined fast quenching and liquid exfoliation strategies, J. Mater. Sci. 51, 3162 (2016).

 

24.  E. Mansouri et al. A review on neutron shielding performance of nano-composite materials, Int. J. Radiat. Res. 18(4), 611 (2020)

Keywords

Nanocomposite
Boron nitride
High density polyethylene
Neutron shielding
Nanostructure
1.  C. Harrison et al., Polyethylene/Boron Nitride Composites for Space Radiation Shielding, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 109, 2529 (2008).
 
2.    S.J. Park, J.G. Jang, and H.K. Lee, Computational investigation of the neutron shielding and activation characteristics of borated concrete with polyethylene aggregate, J. Nucl. Mater. 452, 205 (2014).
 
3.    M.H. Kharita, S. Yousef, and M. AlNassar, Review on the addition of boron compounds to radiation shielding concrete, Prog. Nucl. Energy, 53(2), 207 (2011).
 
4.   C. Zeitlin et al. Measurements of materials shielding properties with 1 GeV/nuc 56Fe, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. B, 252, 308 (2006).
 
5.    L. Li, Y. Chen, and Z.H. Stachurski, Boron nitride nanotube reinforced polyurethane composites, Prog. Nat. Sci.: Mater. Int. 23(2), 170 (2013).
 
6.  C. Zhi et al. Characteristics of boron nitride nanotube-polyaniline composite, Angew. Chem. Int. 44, 7929 (2005).
 
7.    J. Yu et al. Interfacial modification of boron nitride nanoplatelets for epoxy composites with improved thermal properties, Polymer. 53(2), 471 (2012).
 
8.    A.M. Sukegawa et al. Flexible heat resistant neutron shielding resin, J. Nucl. Mater. 417, 850 (2011).
 
9.   G. Eid et al. Neutron shielding using Li3BO3/Epoxy Composite, Researcher, 3, 85 (2011).
 
10.  C. Zhi et al. Boron nitride nanotubes/polystyrene composite, J. Mater. Res. 21(11), 2794 (2006).
 
11. Y. Mülazim, C. Kızılkaya, and M. Kahraman, Thermal and neutron shielding properties of 10B2O3/polyimide hybrid material, Polym. Bull. 67(9), 1741 (2011).
 
12.  C. Harrison et al. Polyethylene∕Boron Composites for Radiation Shielding Applications, AIP, 969, 484 (2008).
 
13.  J. Jung et al. Preparations and thermal properties of micro- and nano-BN dispersed HDPE composites, Thermochim. Acta, 499, 8 (2010).
 
14.  Y.K. Shin et al. Effect of BN filler on thermal properties of HDPE matrix composites, Ceram. Int. 39, S569 (2013).
 
15. J. Ahn et al. Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Boron Carbide Ceramics by Methanol Washed Powder, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 1224, 1224 (2009)
 
16.  Z. Rafiei-Sarmazdeh, S.M. Zahedi-Dizaji, and A.K. Kang, in: Nanostructures, Edited by S. Ameen, (IntechOpen, London, 2019), pp.1-15.
 
17.  Y. Lin, and J.W. Connell, Advances in 2D boron nitride nanostructures: nanosheets, nanoribbons, nanomeshes, and hybrids with graphene, Nanoscale, 4(22), 6908 (2012).
 
18.  X. Wang et al. Boron Nitride Nanosheets: novel Syntheses and Applications in polymeric Composites, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 471, 012003 (2013).
 
19.  D. Golberg et al. Boron nitride nanotubes and nanosheets, ACS Nano, 4(6), 2979 (2010).
 
20.  Q. Weng et al. Functionalized hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials: emerging properties and applications, Chem. Soc. Rev, 45, 3989 (2016).
 
21.  J.W. Shin et al. Polyethylene/boron-containing composites for radiation shielding, Thermochim. Acta, 585, 5 (2014).
 
22.  J. Kim et al. Enhancement of thermal neutron attenuation of nano-B4C, -BN dispersed neutron shielding polymer nanocomposites, J. Nucl. Mater. 453(1), 48 (2014).
 
23.  Z. Rafiei-Sarmazdeh et al. Large-scale exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride with combined fast quenching and liquid exfoliation strategies, J. Mater. Sci. 51, 3162 (2016).
 
24.  E. Mansouri et al. A review on neutron shielding performance of nano-composite materials, Int. J. Radiat. Res. 18(4), 611 (2020)

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