Fabrication and characterization of novel high-efficiency and high-durability neutron-absorbing Ni-based alloys

• Successfully manufactured a novel neutron-absorbing Ni-based alloys by combining the high shielding performance of Gd and durability of Dy. • Adding Gd, Dy, and Gd + Dy into Ni-based alloys formed Ni 5 Gd, Ni 5 Dy and Ni 5 (Gd,Dy), respectively, and their volume fraction increased with increasing Gd/Dy content • The developed alloys are expected to be excellent functional materials for use in the field of nuclear shielding. New neutron-absorbing Ni-based functional alloys that depend on the gadolinium and dysprosium neutron absorption units were fabricated using vacuum induction melting. The effects of Gd and Dy contents on the microstructure characteristics and properties of Ni-based alloys were investigated. Adding Gd, Dy, and Gd + Dy into Ni-based alloys formed Ni 5 Gd, Ni 5 Dy and Ni 5 (Gd,Dy), respectively, and their volume fraction increased with increasing of Gd/Dy content. Different type of elements, Gd or Dy, had no obvious influence on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, while the amount of Gd and Dy elements played an important role. The shielding properties were calculated by the Monte Carlo method, and the alloys possessed high efficiency and high durability performance due to the high contents of Gd and Dy elements. The developed alloys are expected to be good functional materials for use in the field of nuclear shielding.