Strength study of composite materials with boron-containing filler for neutron shielding

The present paper investigates the radiation resistance of plastic composite materials with a 24–25 wt% boron-containing filler for printing by the fused deposition method. The polymer matrix is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polyethylene terephthalate glycol plastics. The introduction of boron reduces the penetration depth of thermal neutrons by 56–78% from 3 to 0.65 mm. Samples of composite and matrix materials were exposed to a plutonium-beryllium neutron source for 130 days. Mechanical tests showed an increase in strength and ductility by ~20% for irradiated polyethylene terephthalate glycol with amorphous boron. No significant changes in the mechanical properties of irradiated plastic matrix samples, as well as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic with boron nitride, were found.