Pressureless Sintering of B4C Neutron Absorbing Material with Nano-Sized Rare-Earth Compounds Addition

The processing of boron carbide by pressureless sintering with nano-sized rare-earth compounds additives to obtain dense pellets for use as neutron absorber in fast breeder reactors is investigated. The effect of dysprosium aluminum garnet (DAG) and dysprosium titanate nanopowders on density and mechanical properties was studied. The addition of DAG and dysprosium titanate nanopowders was found to be beneficial in the densification of B4C powders. B4C with 5 wt. % of DAG or dysprosium titanate nanopowders, exhibiting bulk density of 2.14g/cm(3) and 2.35 g/cm(3), could be prepared by pressureless heating at 2120 degrees C and 2160 degrees C.