Means to make environmentally friendly apertures, collimation and shielding for neutron scattering

What is it about?

3-d printing of polymer composites provides easy routes to make complex objects and is well-suited to manufacture when only one or a small number of components is needed. Boron carbide composites are hard and difficult to machine and so the new process is particularly convenient. Wider use of boron carbide in place of cadmium is desirable for radiological, health and environmental reasons. Use of 10B enriched material reduces parasitic scattering because it is almost 'index matched' as well as giving higher absorption.

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Why is it important?

The need to manufacture components with new materials is of increasing value and the use of the appropriate technology allows these to be made quickly and easily. This work points the way to using more environmentally friendly materials.