Neutron absorbers and methods of forming at least a portion of a neutron absorber
AssigneeBattelle Energy Alliance, LLC
InventorsDonna P. Guillen, Douglas L. Porter, W. David Swank, Arnold W. Erickson
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Abstract
Methods of forming at least a portion of a neutron absorber include combining a first material and a second material to form a compound, reducing the compound into a plurality of particles, mixing the plurality of particles with a third material, and pressing the mixture of the plurality of particles and the third material. One or more components of neutron absorbers may be formed by such methods. Neutron absorbers may include a composite material including an intermetallic compound comprising hafnium aluminide and a matrix material comprising pure aluminum.
Claims20
A method of forming at least a portion of a neutron absorber, comprising:
- combining a first material and a second material to form a compound;
- reducing the compound into a plurality of particles;
- mixing the plurality of particles with a third material;
- and
- pressing the mixture of the plurality of particles and the third material.
A method of forming a portion of a neutron absorber, comprising:
- casting a first material comprising hafnium and a second material comprising aluminum to form a cast compound comprising the hafnium and the aluminum;
- reducing the cast compound into a plurality of particles;
- mixing the plurality of particles with a third material comprising aluminum;
- and
- pressing the mixture of the plurality of particles and the third material.
A neutron absorber, comprising a composite material, comprising:
- an intermetallic compound comprising hafnium aluminide, wherein the composite material comprises substantially 7 atomic percent hafnium, and wherein a substantial entirety of a plurality of particles forming the intermetallic compound each comprises a particle size of less than 38 microns;
- and
- a matrix material comprising pure aluminum, the composite material comprising 20 to 37 volume percent of the intermetallic compound and 63 to 80 volume percent of the matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.