Radiation Shielding

Radiation shielding is often accomplished with the use of boron carbide. Boron is an important material for nuclear applications due to its high neutron absorption cross section (760 barn* at neutron velocity of 2200 m/sec). The cross section of the B10 isotope in boron is considerably higher (3800 barn). In addition, boron doesn't contain decay products with a long half-life and high-energy secondary radioactive materials. Since pure boron is extremely brittle and difficult to produce in shapes (for example: control rods) boron carbide is the material of choice to use since it provides a high concentration of boron atoms in a strong and refractory form and is relatively easy to fabricate.