ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE DIENE RUBBER LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE BORON CARBIDE COMPOSITES AS NEUTRON SHIELDS

Composites of ethylene-propylene diene rubber and low density polyethy lene were prepared with two different concentrations of boron carbide powder, namely, 47 and 57 wt%. The composites were investigated for th eir gamma and slow neutron radiation shielding properties. In addition , the temperature dependence of the electrical and thermal properties of the composites in the temperature range 30-150 degrees C, has been studied. The initial 1.5 cm thickness of the composite sample containi ng 57 wt% boron carbide sharply reduced the initial direct slow neutro n flux by about 85%. The total macroscopic cross-section of this sampl e is 0.215 cm(-1).