Polymer‐Based Neutron Shielding Materials: A Critical Review on Application‐Specific Performance Trade‐Offs and Optimization Strategies

ABSTRACT With the development of platforms such as floating nuclear power plants, small modular reactors, and deep space detectors, the requirements for lightweight, high‐temperature resistance, and other properties of neutron shielding materials are increasingly growing. Polymer‐based composites have become a research hotspot in the field of lightweight neutron shielding materials due to their excellent shielding performance and light weight. This article first expounds the interaction mechanism between neutrons and matter, followed by an introduction to commonly used material performance evaluation methods such as simulation calculations and etc. Subsequently, it systematically reviews the research status of neutron shielding polymer‐based composite materials from the perspectives of polymer matrices and functional fillers, revealing the current deficiencies of these materials in terms of high‐temperature resistance, mechanical properties, and secondary γ‐ray. Finally, performance optimization strategies for neutron‐shielding polymer‐based composites are summarized from perspectives of component design, structural optimization, and process improvement, along with prospects for future development directions. This provides a reference for the design and engineering application of lightweight shielding materials.