Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

EPICS2023-based evaluation of polyboron as a gamma-ray and fast-neutron shielding material

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

S.M. Nymul Hasan Anik
Saad Islam
Ali Mahdi

Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and technology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2026.579826.1350
Abstract
The growing demand for lightweight, high-performance shielding in mixed-field radiation environments exposes the critical limitations of traditional heavy materials like ordinary concrete. This study investigates the dual-shielding efficacy of Polyboron, a composite material, demonstrating its capacity to resolve these practical weight-constraint challenges. Utilizing the MATXCOM code and the EPICS2023 photon data library, we evaluate its fundamental radiological parameters including mass attenuation coefficients, buildup factors, and effective atomic numbers (Zeff) to establish its operational viability. Crucially, this investigation reveals a significant engineering advantage: Polyboron delivers superior fast neutron moderation alongside effective gamma-ray attenuation. Specifically, it provides a 1.8% higher fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR of 0.1128 cm-1 vs. 0.1108 cm-1) and an approximate 9.2% improvement in mass-specific gamma-ray attenuation (MAC) at 1 MeV compared to ordinary concrete. Remarkably, it achieves this enhanced dual-field shielding while offering a massive 57.8% reduction in physical weight (0.971 g.cm-3 versus 2.30 g.cm-3). By matching or exceeding these mass-based protective capabilities of conventional concrete at a fraction of the weight, Polyboron is established as a highly efficient, deployment-ready alternative for weight-sensitive nuclear applications.

Highlights

  • EPICS2023-based photon interaction data were used to assess Polyboron as a radiation shielding material.
  • Gamma-ray attenuation parameters of Polyboron were evaluated over a broad energy range.
  • Exposure and energy absorption buildup factors were calculated to assess deep-penetration shielding behavior.
  • Polyboron showed superior fast neutron removal efficiency compared with ordinary concrete.
  • Polyboron offers a lightweight dual-purpose shielding option for gamma-ray and fast-neutron fields.

Keywords

Polyboron
Mass attenuation coefficient
Buildup factor
Fast neutron removal cross-section
MATXCOM
Phy-X/PSD
Subjects
Radiation Physics and Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 July 2026

  • Receive Date 28 April 2026
  • Revise Date 02 July 2026
  • Accept Date 20 July 2026

Home

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us