Boron (B) isotope B-10 has a large thermal neutron absorption cross section. Boron carbide (B4C), as a compound of B, has low price, no radioactive isotope generation during decay, low secondary radiation energy, and high temperature resistance, radiation resistance and other properties, so it has become a widely used neutron absorption material.

Boron aluminum composite neutron shielding materials because of its uniform material, material density is high, good mechanical performance, high temperature resistant, radiation resistant, relatively simple preparation process and raw material prices are low, and many other advantages widely research by scholars at home and abroad, at present, the material has been part of the reactor spent fuel storage and transport of neutron shielding in the application.

With the development of the research, the boron aluminum composite material is expected to be more widely used in the neutron shielding of ships, submarines, floating nuclear power plants at sea and space reactors, which have strict space and weight restrictions.