Boron Composite Neutron Shielding for Thin Radiation Barriers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neutron radiation shielding technologies require large amounts of material to achieve sufficient shielding, leading to inefficiencies and potential thickness-related delays in communication and autonomous systems.
Innovation Solution
A neutron radiation shielding material composed of boron-containing compounds, particularly hydrogen boride, which efficiently attenuates neutron radiation with a thickness of 1 cm providing an attenuation ratio of 1e-2 or less for neutron radiation at 0.5 eV, effectively inhibiting soft errors in semiconductor devices and shielding neutron radiation in various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of material for decelerating neutron radiation is used, then neutron radiation shielding performance is improved, but the thickness of the shielding member must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by incorporating boron-containing compounds (such as boron carbide, boron nitride, or boron-rich glass) into the resin matrix. Boron has a high neutron absorption cross-section, which fundamentally changes the neutron interaction parameters of the shielding material, enabling superior neutron attenuation performance without increasing thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite shielding material by combining organic resin (providing structural matrix and hydrogen for neutron moderation) with inorganic boron-containing compounds (providing high neutron absorption capability). This composite structure synergistically combines the advantages of both material types to achieve effective neutron radiation shielding with reduced thickness.
2Reliability
If the thickness of shielding material is increased, then neutron radiation attenuation is improved, but the time required for error checking and system response increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material composition to include boron-containing compounds with high neutron absorption cross-sections, the patent achieves the required neutron attenuation in a thinner layer, thereby reducing the physical thickness without compromising shielding performance and maintaining fast system response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses error correction codes (ECC) as a software/copy-based solution to detect and correct soft errors caused by neutron radiation, providing a backup mechanism that operates independently of physical shielding thickness and does not introduce significant time delays.
3Reliability
If conventional shielding materials are used, then neutron radiation can be shielded, but a large amount of material is required leading to inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the shielding material composition by incorporating boron-containing compounds, which have exceptionally high neutron absorption cross-sections. This parameter change allows achieving the same shielding effect with significantly reduced material quantity compared to conventional hydrogen-rich materials alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite material system combining resin and boron-containing compounds, where the boron compounds serve as highly efficient neutron absorbers. This composite approach maximizes neutron shielding effectiveness per unit mass, reducing the overall quantity of shielding material required while maintaining protective capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The boron-containing shielding material efficiently shields neutron radiation across a range of energies, including low energy regions, without increasing thickness, thereby reducing soft errors and protecting against secondary radiation, while being applicable to semiconductor devices and nuclear facilities.
Implementation Method 1
the neutron radiation shielding material has an attenuation ratio of 1e-2 or less with respect to neutron radiation at 0.5 eV when the neutron radiation shielding material has a thickness of 1 cm
Implementation Method 2
boron-containing compounds, particularly hydrogen boride, which efficiently attenuates neutron radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A neutron radiation shielding material has an attenuation ratio of 1e-2 or less with respect to neutron radiation at 0.5 eV, when the neutron radiation shielding material has a thickness of 1 cm. The neutron radiation shielding material shields neutron radiation.