Boron and Boron Compounds in Radiation Shielding Materials

Abstract

A risk to the nuclear industry is radiation, specifically neutron radiation. In order to maintain a safe workspace for workers, better shielding is being developed. Current shielding methods are examined and boron is considered a potential material for shielding. All living beings and non-living things on earth are exposed to the daily radiation of natural radiation sources in the air, water, soil, and even in their bodies, as well as artificial radiation sources produced by humans. To be safeguarded from the detrimental influences of radiation, it is important to be careful about three basic issues: time, distance, and shielding. The longer the exposure time to radiation from the radioactive source or the closer one is to the radioactive source, the higher the radiation dose to be received. The radiation emitted by some radionuclides is so intense that you can be exposed to it even though you cannot see it from miles away. It can only be protected from the effects of such intense radioactive materials with strong shielding. Boron, having a large cross-section, is combined with other materials in order to obtain the desired material properties to have shielding that can be applied in different situations.