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Microstructure, mechanical and neutron shielding properties of aluminum borate ceramics obtained from alumina and boric acid

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Abstract

In this study, a series of aluminum borate ceramics (ABCs) with needle-like whiskers were obtained using a low-cost, solid-state, pressureless sintering ceramic route, without any additives during the preparation process. The effects of different alumina/boric acid molar ratios and sintering temperatures on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, specific surface area, pore size distribution, and sub-cadmium neutron shielding properties of ABCs were studied using orthogonal experiments. It was observed that pure phase aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) ceramics could be obtained at 1100 ℃, forming a mass of needle-like whiskers. The whiskers’ aspect ratio, fracture work, specific surface area, and pore size distribution of ABCs are maximized when ABCs are sintered at 1100 ℃ with 9:6 alumina/boric acid molar ratio. In this condition, ABCs (0.5 cm) can shield 70% of sub-cadmium neutrons (E<0.4 eV). These findings demonstrate the great potential of aluminum borate ceramics for neutron shielding applications.

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The raw data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as these data also form part of an ongoing study. The data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Graduate Innovation Base (Lab) Open Fund [NO. KFJJ20190602], the Funding for Engineering Research Center of Nuclear Technology Application East China University of Technology) [NO. HJSJYB2021-7], the Basic Research Expenses [NO. 1006-ILB23003], the Defense Industrial Technology Development Program [NO. JCKY2021605B031], National Natural Science Foundation of China [NO.42374226], Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation [NO.20232BAB201043 and 20232BCJ23006].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), 211106, Nanjing, China

    Dong Lao, Lingfeng Huang, Xuwen Liang & Wenbao Jia

  2. Engineering Research Center of Nuclear Technology Application, Ministry of Education, East China University of Technology, 330013, Nanchang, China

    Yan Zhang

  3. Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, 215006, Suzhou, China

    Wenbao Jia

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  1. Dong Lao
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  2. Yan Zhang
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  3. Lingfeng Huang
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Correspondence to Yan Zhang or Wenbao Jia.

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Lao, D., Zhang, Y., Huang, L. et al. Microstructure, mechanical and neutron shielding properties of aluminum borate ceramics obtained from alumina and boric acid. J Aust Ceram Soc (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41779-024-01031-9

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