Analysis of key factors on the neutron shielding performance for various boron-containing compounds

Boron-containing compounds have gained significant attention as effective additives for enhancing the performance of composite materials. This study systematically investigates the key factors influencing the neutron shielding efficiency of various boron compounds, including mass density, boron content, and boron number density (atoms/nm3 ), to establish guidelines for their optimal selection in radiation shielding applications. The effective removal cross-section (ΣR) for fast neutrons was evaluated using Phy-X and NXcom software, whereas the macroscopic cross-section (Σ) for thermal neutrons was calculated via Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations and manual computations. The results demonstrate that mass density and boron number density are the dominant factors for fast neutron shielding, with ΣR values ranging from 0.082 cm−1 (KBH4) to 0.225 cm−1 (WB2). For thermal neutrons, the boron number density is the primary determinant of shielding performance, with Σ values of 4070.34 cm−1 for GdB6, 474.67 cm−1 for ZrB12, and 447.37 cm−1 for B4C. Notably, GdB6 exhibits exceptional thermal neutron shielding owing to the high absorption cross-section of 157Gd. These findings provide critical insights for designing advanced shielding materials, emphasizing the synergistic effects of density and boron number density to optimize neutron attenuation.