Nov/2015: Page 1 of 4

SWX-238 Flexi-Boron
Technical Information
SWX-238 Flexi-Boron is a flexible thermal neutron shielding material useful for shielding irregular
shapes as well as for being adhered to large straight or curved vertical surfaces.
Applications: Thermal Neutron Shielding
Typical Uses: Criticality Control in Power Reactors, Research, Processing
Approvals/Customers: First Energy, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, INL
Shielding Effectiveness For Various Types of Radiation:
Thermal Neutrons Fast Neutrons
Gammas
Capture Gammas -

excellent
fair
fair
excellent

Temperature Limit:

400F (205C)

Machinability:

Poor, cuts easily with a razor blade knife

Forms and Sizes of Shielding: Standard up to 24x36x1/8 thick. Available in larger and thicker sizes
Radiation Resistance (structural and shielding integrity):
Accumulated Gamma Radiation Exposure Limit: 1.0 x 1010 Rad
Accumulated Neutron Radiation Exposure Limit: 5.0 x 1018 n / cm2
Density: 1.64 gram / cm3

(102 pounds / cubic foot)

Thermal Neutron One-Tenth Thickness: 0.048 inch

Thickness of SWX-238 required to reduce incident flux of thermal neutrons by a factor of
10 (exit thermal flux is 10% of incident thermal flux)

Shieldwerx
A Division of Bladewerx LLC

4529 Arrowhead Ridge Dr. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: (505) 892-5144

Fax: (505) 890-8319

Nov/2015: Page 2 of 4

Neutron Moderation Characteristics

Thickness of SWX-238 required to reduce to thermal 90% of an incident neutron flux, as
a function of initial neutron energy (exit epithermal flux is 10% of incident neutron flux)

Shieldwerx
A Division of Bladewerx LLC

4529 Arrowhead Ridge Dr. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: (505) 892-5144

Fax: (505) 890-8319

Nov/2015: Page 3 of 4

Gamma Attenuation Characteristics

Thickness of SWX-238 required to reduce an incident gamma flux by a factor of 10, as a
function of incident gamma energy (exit gamma flux is 10% of incident gamma flux)

Shieldwerx
A Division of Bladewerx LLC

4529 Arrowhead Ridge Dr. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: (505) 892-5144

Fax: (505) 890-8319

Nov/2015: Page 4 of 4

SWX-238 Flexi-Boron
Nominal Elemental Analysis

Element

Percent by Weight

Number of atoms/cc

Boron

27.55

2.51 x 1022

Silicon

26.85

9.41 x 1021

Oxygen

23.57

1.45 x 1022

Carbon

18.69

1.53 x 1022

Hydrogen

2.76

2.70 x 1022

Zinc

0.26

3.87 x 1019

Nitrogen

0.16

1.10 x 1020

Iron

0.16

2.86 x 1019

Density

1.64 gram/cm3

Shieldwerx
A Division of Bladewerx LLC

4529 Arrowhead Ridge Dr. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: (505) 892-5144

Fax: (505) 890-8319