Polyethylene/boron-containing composites for radiation shielding*

摘要

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites with modified boron nitride (mBN) fillers, functionalized with an organosilane, were fabricated through conventional melt-extrusion processing techniques. The properties and performances of these composites were compared with those of the composites containing pristine BN and boron carbide (B_4C) fillers. The silane functionalization of the BN fillers strongly improved the interfacial adhesion between the polymer matrix and the filler. As a result, the HDPE/mBN composites showed a better dispersion state of the filler particles, larger tensile modulus, greater effective thermal conductivity, and better neutron shielding property compared with the HDPE/BN and HDPE/B4C composites.