Mechanical and Thermal Neutron Absorbing Properties of B4C/Aluminum Alloy Composites Fabricated by Stir Casting and Hot Rolling Process

In this study, to fabricate neutron shielding material, boron carbide (B4C)-reinforced aluminum (Al) alloy composites were successfully fabricated by stir casting followed a hot rolling process. Microstructural analysis of B4C/Al6061 with different volume fractions (5, 10, 20, 25, and 30%) revealed that the had ratios similar target B4C. Furthermore, B4C reinforcements uniformly dispersed in Al matrix, forming multi-interfacial layers Al4C3/(Ti,Cr)B2. The interfacial layer generated during maintained its own structure after process, indicating strong bonding strength. tensile strengths increased 20 vol.% stayed above value for Al6061, even reaching 30 vol.%. measured thermal rate increasing content, highest was observed at composite, which corresponds 95.6% 0.158-cm thickness.