In summary, a novel anti-radiation material was successfully
fabricated via a powder metallurgy method. Microstructure analysis
on the BPOp/Al composite indicated that the composite has an
incomplete reaction between BPOp and Al matrix. Furthermore, we
demonstrated the anti-radiation performance and mechanical
property by ionizing radiations measurements and tensile test.
Compared with aluminum, the mass attenuation coefficient (l/q)
values of the composite for the X-ray and c-ray photons were increased
by 40.63% and 14.74%, respectively. And from the tensile
test, the composite has an extinct increase in specific strength
and modulus compared with conventional radiation shielding
materials. We attribute the increase in UTS and elastic modulus
to the hard Phase Ba3Al2O6 and higher elastic modulus of BPOp
than Al matrix as well as Pb nanoparticles which elevated free energy
of the system to cause strength effect. These preliminary
experimental data have revealed that the BPOp/Al composite effectively
combined high strength with anti-radiation function and is
promising for use as a lightweight anti-radiation material. It seems
reasonable to expect that the use of BPOp as ceramic fillers in aluminum
matrix composite would provide improved radiation
shielding characteristics. Further study using BPOp as second
phase for such composite is underway.