In boron - containing polyethylene spheres, boron plays a major role in absorption. The reaction section of boron to low-energy neutrons is relatively large. Before hydrogen reaction, the low-energy neutrons have beenpletely absorbed by boron. When the mass percentage of boron containing polyethylene is 10 ‰ and the thickness is 15cm, the protective effect of boron containing polyethylene to neutrons has reached the requirements. If the boron content or thickness is added on this basis, the neutron integral leakage amount will not change.

《D-T中子照射下含硼 聚乙烯球泄露γ能谱测量》实验运用聚乙烯球和含硼聚乙烯球在D-T中子照射下泄露γ能的实验说明:聚乙烯球中氢的慢化起主要作用,中子被慢化后,主要是低能中子对氢的反应。厚度越大,氢的慢化、吸收越强,表现在氢的反应峰值的幅度增大。
而在含硼聚乙烯球中,主要是硼起吸收作用。硼对低能中子的反应截面比较大,在还没有发生氢的反应之前低能中子基本已被硼完全吸收,含硼聚乙烯在质量百分比为10﹪、厚度为15cm时,含硼聚乙烯对中子的防护效果已达到要求。在此基础上再增加含硼量或者厚度,中子的积分泄露量基本不发生变化。

