650 mm Borated Polyethylene Sheets: Complete Application Guide for Isotope Projects
Belong to the classification： CASE
Belong to the classification： Project case
2026-08-15 09:37
In 2025, Shandong Ningjin Xinxing Chemical Co.,ltd. supplied manufactured and machined borated polyethylene sheets for the enclosure chambers of the neutron source production line in Phase II of the Radioactive Source R&D and Production Base Project of China Isotope & Radiation Corporation.
Borated polyethylene is widely recognized as one of the most cost-effective, high-performance neutron shielding materials for nuclear and isotope applications, and the 650 mm sheet specification directly addresses a key pain point in large-scale facility construction. Unlike smaller sheets that require extensive on-site splicing, large-format 650 mm borated polyethylene sheets minimize the number of joint gaps—common weak points that can cause unintended neutron leakage in the high-flux neutron environments of neutron source production lines. This specification also delivers higher overall structural uniformity, ensuring consistent neutron attenuation performance across the entire enclosure chamber, which is critical for maintaining long-term stable radiation protection during continuous isotope production operations. Shandong Ningjin Xinxing Chemical Co.,ltd.’s nuclear-grade borated polyethylene is manufactured with uniformly dispersed boron carbide particles, which guarantees reliable thermal neutron capture efficiency, while the polyethylene matrix effectively moderates fast neutrons to block all common neutron types produced in isotope projects. The custom pre-machining service the company provided also reduced on-site construction time by nearly 15% compared to traditional on-site cutting processes, helping the Phase II project meet its scheduled commercial production timeline. This successful deployment demonstrates the reliability of 650 mm borated polyethylene sheets for large-scale critical isotope infrastructure, highlighting the material’s unique advantages in balancing strict radiation safety requirements, construction efficiency, and long-term operational costs. (Word count: 327)
Product specifications of the borated polyethylene sheets are listed as follows:
- Boron content: 9%
- Finished thickness: 650 mm
- Finished dimensions: 3550 mm × 2530 mm
- Assembly method: Stacked thickness structure fixed with the same material
Borated polyethylene sheet serves as the core shielding material for the enclosure chambers of the neutron source production line in this project, mainly applied for neutron radiation shielding. By incorporating boron carbide (B₄C) and other boron-containing components, the material leverages the powerful neutron capture capacity of boron‑10 isotopes. Hydrogen atoms within the polyethylene matrix moderate fast neutrons, while boron‑10 isotopes absorb thermal neutrons, forming an integrated "moderation-absorption" protection mechanism to achieve highly efficient neutron shielding.
The borated polyethylene sheets are adopted for chamber walls, doors and equipment shielding layers to guarantee radiation safety. Upon completion, the project will become Asia’s largest radioactive source R&D and production base, with an annual output of over 100,000 radioactive sources covering more than 70 radionuclide products. The application of borated polyethylene sheets directly enhances China’s international competitiveness in the field of neutron source preparation technology.
