Multifiller-based polymer composites for shielding high energy ionising radiation.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Lead and barite are conventional gamma shielding materials but have drawbacks like toxicity and weight.
• Developing novel, lightweight, and flexible materials for effective gamma shielding is crucial for radiation protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and investigate polydimethyl silicone rubber-based polymer composites filled with molybdenum (Mo) and bismuth (Bi) for gamma shielding applications.
• To evaluate the physical, chemical, and gamma shielding properties of these novel composite materials.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polymer composites using an open mold cast technique.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Measurement of gamma shielding parameters including linear attenuation coefficient and half-value layer (HVL) using a gamma ray spectrometer.

Main Results:

• XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of the composites, while FTIR indicated no chemical interaction between the polymer matrix and fillers.
• Linear attenuation coefficient increased with Mo and Bi content, outperforming conventional materials at 356 keV.
• Calculated HVL thickness demonstrated effective shielding capabilities, with values lower than lead for certain configurations.

Conclusions:

• Polydimethyl silicone rubber-based composites with Mo and Bi exhibit promising gamma shielding properties.
• The lightweight and flexible nature of these composites makes them a viable, safer alternative to heavy and toxic lead shielding.
• These novel materials hold potential for use in various radiation protection applications where flexibility and reduced weight are advantageous.