Light Weight, Easy Formable and Non-ToxicPolymer-Based Composites for Hard X-rayShielding: A Theoretical and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Radiological Physics

Background:

• Traditional X-ray shielding materials like lead and steel pose environmental and health concerns.
• There is a need for lightweight, workable, and less toxic alternatives for X-ray shielding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel composite lightweight materials for X-ray shielding.
• To compare the shielding properties, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness of these composites against traditional materials.

Main Methods:

• Material design and simulation using Geant4 software.
• Preparation and characterization of epoxy-based composites with barium sulfate and bismuth oxide.
• Radiopacity testing via digital radiography.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for environmental impact and toxicity evaluation.

Main Results:

• Optimized composite mixtures demonstrate significant weight reduction (up to 60%) and comparable or superior X-ray shielding to steel.
• Specific formulations offer varying balances of shielding performance, cost, and weight.
• The 20% epoxy/60% bismuth oxide/20% barite mixture shows the best shielding performance.
• The 20% epoxy/20% bismuth oxide/60% barite mixture is the most cost-effective while maintaining steel-level shielding.

Conclusions:

• Epoxy-based composites with barium sulfate and bismuth oxide are viable, eco-friendly alternatives for X-ray shielding.
• These materials offer tunable properties to meet diverse application requirements.
• The developed composites present a significant advancement in lightweight, sustainable radiation protection technology.