RADIATION-INDUCED CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF BORAFLEX(TM),A NEUTRON ABSORBER MATERIAL FOR NUCELAR APPLICATIONS

Boraflex is a neutron absorber material and is currently used in about 75 storage pools around the world for the control of reactivity of LW R fuel in storage. In this work, the effects of gamma radiation on the physical properties of Boraflex including dimensions, weight, Shore A hardness, density and dynamic shear modulus were investigated. Specim ens of Boraflex were irradiated in de-ionized water in a Co-60 facilit y to an integrated dose of 1 x 10(10) rad. The experimental results pr ovide the asymptotic values of dimension changes, saturation dose leve ls and a basis for inferring property changes on a micro-scale. Result s presented here aid in identifying the in-service property changes of Boraflex and represent the most accurate data for this material yet a vailable.