IMPROVED NEUTRON ABSORPTION EFFECTIVENESS FOR BORON CONTENT ALUMINUM MATERIALS

摘要

A method is described for improving neutron absorption in aluminum-based cas t composite material, which comprises preparing a molten composite from an aluminum alloy matrix and aluminum-boron intermetallics containing relativel y large boron-containing particles, and either (a) heating the composite and holding for a time sufficient to partially dissolve the boron-containing particles and then adding titanium to form fine titanium diboride particles, and casting the composite, or (b) adding gadolinium or samarium to the molte n composite or to the aluminum alloy matrix and casting the composite to precipitate fine particles of Gd-Al or Sm-Al within the cast composite, said fine particles filling gaps around the large boron-containing particles with neutron absorbing material. A neutron absorbing cast composite material is obtained comprising neutron absorbing compounds in the form of large particl es comprising B4C or an aluminum-boron intermetallic and a distribution of fine particles or precipitates comprising TiB2 or (AlTi)B2, Sm-aluminum intermetallic compounds or Gd-aluminum intermetallic compounds.