I where looking for elements that can absorpt neutrons without generating radioactive materials in order to be used in future Pulsotron reactor installations, and I found that most of them in earth are suitable. I found that could work:
C, O, Si, S, N, H
The most percentage of isotopes can receive one or two neutrons being stable, but if a neutron would be subtracted it would convert in an unstable isotope.
About that I was happy to know that silice, concrete and limestone could be used.
A free neutron has a short half life (10.2 min), thus we do not find them free in earth. For the materials, to absorb the neutrons; it depends on
1- The energy of the neutron to be absorbed.
2- The absorption cross sections.
3- Scattering cross sections.
You are true, free neturons are very few, the question is that inside most elements nucleous there are less neutrons than expected, because they are more willing to accept neutrons that to release them.
Perhaps all the comes from helium fusion and more heavy elements are more stable with more neutrons. Perhaps an astrophysics college could help us in the matter
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