Patent Number: 046844805
Section: claims

1. A ceramically bonded neutron absorber article of boron carbide and free carbon, comprising from about 40 to 60% by volume boron carbide+silicon carbide in B.sub.4 C:SiC ratio of from about 9:1 to 1:9 and from about 10 to 20% by volume of free carbon, the remainder being pores, having a density of from about 1.5 to 2.2 g/cm.sup.3 and a flexural strength of from about 20 to 50 N/mm.sup.2 at room temperature, measured according to the 3-point method, which, after immersion for about 3000 hours in boiling water, drops by less than about 40% of the initial value. 2. A neutron absorber material according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 15 to 25% by volume boron carbide,  about 25 to 30% by volume silicon carbide and  about 10 to 20% volume of the free carbon,  the remainder pores.