Design and manufacture of neutrons shield from composite materials

Abstract

Radiation protection principles may be specified within three parameters, limiting time, distance and shielding, the aim of this work is to make a shield for neutrons that we got from Am- Be source, the neutrons will be fast with energy of (5MeV), researchers designed exposure system that contain the source and the shield to be tested within three stages. The first stage was attenuated fast neutrons by composite material prepared from Epoxy as a matrix reinforced by Boron with different concentrations (0,5%,10%,12% and 15%) with thickness of (0.5)cm, then concentration 0f 12% was selected for test with different thickness of (0.5,1,1.5,2 and 2.5)cm, then 2cm was chose to start the second stage for the capture of thermal neutrons. The shield for thermal neutrons made from epoxy reinforced by cadmium at different concentration (0,10%,15%,20% and 25%) with thickness of (0.5)cm, then concentration 15% was chose to test with thickness of (0.5,1,1.5,2and 2.5)cm, the thickness of (1)cm. Finally a gamma shield made from Epoxy reinforced by lead with concentration of (0,10%,15%,20%and 25%) with thickness of (0.5)cm, then concentration 15% was choose to test with thickness of (0.5,1,1.5,2and 2.5)cm, the concentration of 15% with thickness of (1)cm was selected. So the shield is constructed in 3 layers of reinforced with Epoxy by Boron, Cadmium and Lead respectively, The linear absorption coefficient of neutrons for the Boron composite was 0.4212cm−1, for the composite cadmium was 0.1526cm−1 and for the lead composite was 0.126cm−1. The results show a good agreement with published data.Radiation protection principles may be specified within three parameters, limiting time, distance and shielding, the aim of this work is to make a shield for neutrons that we got from Am- Be source, the neutrons will be fast with energy of (5MeV), researchers designed exposure system that contain the source and the shield to be tested within three stages. The first stage was attenuated fast neutrons by composite material prepared from Epoxy as a matrix reinforced by Boron with different concentrations (0,5%,10%,12% and 15%) with thickness of (0.5)cm, then concentration 0f 12% was selected for test with different thickness of (0.5,1,1.5,2 and 2.5)cm, then 2cm was chose to start the second stage for the capture of thermal neutrons. The shield for thermal neutrons made from epoxy reinforced by cadmium at different concentration (0,10%,15%,20% and 25%) with thickness of (0.5)cm, then concentration 15% was chose to test with thickness of (0.5,1,1.5,2and 2.5)cm, the thickness of (1)cm. Finally a gamma shield ma...