B4C/Al composite is mainly used for neutron absorbing materials, which is one of the components of equipment that manages spent nuclear fuel. There are various processes for manufacturing neutron absorbing materials, but most of them are based on the powder metallurgy. In this study, B4C/Al composite in which the reinforcement was uniformly dispersed was manufactured by using the stir casting process. The microstructure, thermal neutron absorption rate, mechanical properties and dispersibility of the reinforcement of the prepared B4C/Al composite were analyzed.

Process capability is well known in quality control literatures. Process capability refers to the uniformity of the process. Obviously, the variability in the process is a measure of the uniformity of output. It is customary to take the 6-sigma spread in the distribution of the product quality characteristic as a measure of process capability. However there is no reference of process capability when maximum material condition is applied to datum and position tolerance in GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing). If there is no material condition in datum and position tolerance, process capability can be calculated as usual. If there is a material condition in a feature control frame, bonus tolerance is permissible. Bonus tolerance is an additional tolerance for a geometric control. Whenever a geometric tolerance is applied to a feature of size, and it contains an maximum material condition (or least material condition) modifier in the tolerance portion of the feature control frame, a bonus tolerance is permissible. When the maximum material condition modifier is used in the tolerance portion of the feature control frame, it means that the stated tolerance applies when the feature of size is at its maximum material condition. When actual mating size of the feature of size departs from maximum material condition (towards least material condition), an increase in the stated tolerance-equal to the amount of the departure-is permitted. This increase, or extra tolerance, is called the bonus tolerance. Another type of bonus tolerance is datum shift. Datum shift is similar to bonus tolerance. Like bonus tolerance, datum shift is an additional tolerance that is available under certain conditions. Therefore we try to propose how to calculate process capability index of position tolerance when maximum material condition is applied to datum and position tolerance.