Investigation of Neutron Moderating Power Variation of HDPE Used in a Gamma Radiation Environment

Year
2008
Author(s)
Hee-Sung Shin - Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
Kwang-June Park - Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
Abstract
High density polyethylene (HDPE) is degraded due to a radation-induced oxidation when it is used as a neutron moderater in a neutron counter for a nuclear material accounting of spent fuels. The HDPE exposed to the gamma-ray emitted form the fission products in a way spent nuclear fuel results in a radiation-induced degradation which changes its original molecular structure to others. So a neutron moderating power variation of HDPE, irradiated by gamma radiation, was investiaged in this work.