%0 Journal Article %A Mortazavi, S.M.J. %A Kardan, M. %A Sina, S. %A Baharvand, H. %A Sharafi, N. %T Design and fabrication of high density borated polyethylene nanocomposites as a neutron shield %J International Journal of Radiation Research %V 14 %N 4 %U http://ijrr.com/article-1-1825-en.html %R 10.18869/acadpub.ijrr.14.4.379 %D 2016 %K Keywords: Nano-composites, neutron shield, borated polyethylene, MCNP., %X Background: Polyethylene composites including boron can be used as an effective neutron shield. Our investigation focuses on manufacturing borated polyethylene nano-composite. The purpose of this study is to design a radiation shield for use in both neutron and gamma fields. Materials and Methods: Borated polyethylene shields containing 2%, and 5% weight percentage of Boron nano-particles were constructed and their neutron attenuation was compared with pure polyethylene. Polycarbonate films were used to find the attenuation of Am-Be neutrons after passing the shields. Mechanical properties of the shields were finally compared. Results: Mean (± SD) number of α tracks induced by neutrons passing through the shields, were found to be 1.0488×103±128.98, 1.1972×103±289.56and 1.5340×103±206.52 for polyethylene with 5% by weight, polyethylene with 2% by weight boron nano-particles, and pure polyethylene, respectively. The neutron spectrum after each shield was also obtained by MCNP4C Monte Carlo simulations. On the other hand, borated polyethylene nano-composites showed higher tensile strength compared to that of pure polyethylene. Attenuation of neutrons measured in experiments and the result of MCNP simulation were in good agreement. Conclusion: A statistically significant difference was found between neutron attenuation by borated polyethylene nanocomposite made of 5% by weight boron and pure polyethylene. However, the difference between borated polyethylene nano-composite with 5% weight and 2% wt boron was not statistically significant. %> http://ijrr.com/article-1-1825-en.pdf %P 379-383 %& 379 %! HDBPE nanocomposites as neutron shields %9 Short Report %L A-10-1-643 %+ Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran %G eng %@ 2322-3243 %[ 2016