Neutron Absorbing Composite Material and Method of Manufacture

A method of producing a neutron absorbing metal matrix composite, comprising the steps of:

• mixing a 30-50 micron size B4C powder with an aqueous organic binder component to form a slurry;
• drying said slurry at a temperature from about 20 to about 90 degrees Celsius until a dried cake comprising 1-20 percent organic binder of the total weight of said dry cake is formed;
• granulating said dried cake to yield a granule size from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm;
• compressing said granules under pressure to create a particulate preform having an interior open porosity.

A neutron absorbing metal matrix composite, comprising:

• at least one stacked preform having an interior porosity between about 30% to about 75%, said preform further comprising between about 25% to about 70% of B4C;
• said at least one stacked preform positioned between a top and bottom layer of fiber paper, said fiber paper having an interior porosity of about 95%;
• said at least one stacked preform and said top and bottom layer further comprising a metal, said metal infiltrated within said stacked preform interior open porosity and said top and bottom fiber paper layers interior open porosity, said metal infiltration forming a neutron absorbing metal matrix composite;
• wherein said metal matrix composite comprises about 5% fiber loading and a ductility greater than 1%, and wherein said B4C is distributed uniformly throughout the entire volume of said metal matrix composite.