Abstract:
The
10B isotope of B in B
4C which has high thermal neutron absorption cross-section is a great neutron absorber. B
4C/6061Al composites with the B
4C volume fractions of 10%-40% were fabricated by spark plasma sintering(SPS), the microstructure and phase composition of B
4C/6061Al neutron absorber composites (B
4C/6061Al) were analyzed and the tensile property of B
4C/6061Al was measured. The results show that B
4C particles distribute relatively homogeneously in 6061Al matrix, plasma generated by microscopic electrical discharge between the particles can improve the interfacial bonding of B
4C particle/6061Al matrix, the phases of composites are mainly Al, B
4C, AlB
2 and Al
3BC. With the increase of B
4C volume fractions, the relative density of B
4C/6061Al decreases and the tensile strength first increases and then decreases, the fracture mechanism is mainly the tear of 6061Al matrix and the B
4C particle/6061Al matrix interface.