Study of radiation-protective characteristics of polyethylene composites with B4C and Bi2O3 to neutron and gamma radiation

The paper presents the results of research of protective materials in the range of neutron energy from 800 keV to 16 MeV and gamma-quanta energy from 100 keV to 9 MeV. Composite materials containing high pressure polyethylene (HPPE) C₂H₄ 95 wt%, boron carbide B₄C – 5 wt% (borated polyethylene) and HPPE C₂H₄ 55 wt%, boron carbide B₄C – 5 wt%, bismuth oxide Bi₂O₃ – 40 wt% were tested. The results of mechanical tests of composites, SEM images of their surface, as well as the results of ultrasonic tests are presented. The results of full cross sections for neutrons and gamma quanta are obtained. From the presented full cross section results for neutrons, it can be seen that C₂H₄ 55 wt% +B₄C 5 wt%+ Bi₂O₃ 40 wt% material has no advantage over borated polyethylene (C₂H₄ 95 wt%+B₄C 5 wt%), while the analysis of the full cross section results for γ-quanta showed that C₂H₄ 55 wt%+B₄C 5 wt%+ Bi₂O₃ 40 wt% material has an apparent advantage over borated polyethylene (about ∼0,25 barns).