Design and Fabrication of High-Temperature-Resistant Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) Loaded with Tungsten and Boron Carbide Particles Against Neutron and Gamma Rays

A novel high-temperature-resistant W-B₄C-poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) composite shielding material against neutron and gamma rays was developed and fabricated. Firstly, utilizing the ²³⁵U-induced fission spectrum as the source term, the compositional ratio of the W-B₄C-PMP ternary composite was optimized using the genetic algorithm-based GENOCOPIII program coupled with MCNP simulations. Then, the composite was fabricated through coupling agent modification, melt mixing, and hot pressing. Finally, the effects of coupling modification and tungsten content on the thermomechanical properties of the composite were investigated. Results demonstrated that functional groups from the silane coupling agent KH550 were successfully grafted onto the filler surfaces. For composites containing 30 wt% modified B₄C and 40 wt% modified W in the PMP matrix, the heat deflection temperature (HDT) increased by 18.5% and 19.1%, respectively, compared to their unmodified counterparts. The impact strength also improved by 31.6% and 5.0%, respectively. The variation trend of the composite's modulus approximately followed the classical Einstein model, while its tensile strength and flexural strength conformed precisely to the model: σcσm=0.88Vf-0.02. Thermal analysis indicated that the composites possessed a melting point exceeding 230 °C, and their thermal stability improved with increasing filler content.