The dynamic properties of B₄C/6061Al neutron absorber composites fabricated by power metallurgy

ABSTRACT

The dynamic compression properties of B₄C/6061Al neutron absorber composites (NACs) with three B₄C volume fractions (20–40%), fabricated by power metallurgy, were studied. Compression tests were conducted at strain rates ranging from 760 to 1150 s⁻¹, using a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The damage mechanism was studied through microstructural analysis. Results show that the B₄C particles exhibited a uniform distribution in the 6061Al matrix. The NACs dynamic strength was found to improve with increasing quantities of B₄C particles, and with strain rate. The damage mechanisms include particle fracture and interface debonding. Dislocation pile-up was observed at grain boundaries and at the interface between particles and the matrix. A constitutive model under dynamic compression was developed based on the Johnson–Cook model.

This paper is part of a thematic issue on Nuclear Materials.

KEYWORDS:

• Dynamic compressive properties
• B4C/6061Al NACs
• vacuum
• hot pressed sintering
• Damage mechanism
• Interface
• Dislocation
• Johnson-Cook

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Yuli Li http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3505-5437

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51505320] and the Key Science and Technology Program of Shanxi Province, China [grant number 20130321024].