Design, fabrication and comprehensive properties of the novel thermal neutron shielding Gd/316L composites

The constitutive equation of the 155/157 Gd areal density and thermal neutron shielding rate was established by Monte Carlo N Particle Transport Code (MCNP) and used to design the novel Gd/316L stainless steel thermal neutron shielding materials. When the 155/157 Gd areal density is greater than 0.01 g/cm 2 , the thermal neutron absorption rate of the Gd/316L composite reaches approximately 99%. The novel thermal neutron shielding materials with different Gd (1 wt.%, - 5 wt.%,) contents were prepared at 950 °C by spark plasma sintering. The transition layer composed of FeNi 3 , GdNi, and Gd 3 Ni can be formed during the sintering process. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of Gd/316L composites decrease with the increase of the Gd content. In H 3 BO 3 solution, pitting corrosion and galvanic corrosion occur at the interface between Gd and 316L matrix.