LAUSR

Abstract A novel boron carbide and gadolinium particles reinforced Al neutron shielding composite (1%Gd + 15%B4C)/Al was successfully fabricated by vacuum hot pressing method, and its microstructure and tensile properties before and after hot extrusion were studied. The results indicated that, when adding 1% Gd particles in the composite, Gd-containing phases, parts of which were identified as Al2Gd3, Al5Gd3O12, and Al11GdO18 by TEM, were produced in the composite and can be treated as reinforcement. After hot extrusion, the mechanical property of the composite was obviously improved. Under 54:1 extrusion ratio, the tensile strength of (1%Gd + 15%B4C)/Al reached about 260 MPa, which increased by 15% compared to 15%B4C/Al under the same condition. Hot extrusion was beneficial to improved interface bonding and uniform distribution of Gd-containing phases, so as to change fracture mechanism from interface debonding to near-interface fracture, which facilitated to exert the transferring load ability of Gd-containing phases and thereby increasing the strength.