Development of PMMA based polymer composite incorporating WO₃ for gamma radiation shielding using synthesis and Monte...

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) stands out for its widespread use in medical and industrial applications due to its transparency, impact resistance, lightweight nature, and weather durability, and ease of fabrication. In this study, we investigate a novel composite material combining PMMA with tungsten oxide (WO₃), a high-atomic-number filler known to enhance gamma radiation shielding. Composite samples with varying weight fractions of WO₃ were simulated using Monte Carlo particle transport codes, MCNP6 and GEANT4. Key shielding parameters, including the effective atomic number (via Phy-X), attenuation coefficients (via XCOM), linear and mass attenuation coefficients, mean free path, half-value layer, and tenth-value layer (via MCNP6, GEANT4, and experimental data) were analyzed. Experimental validation was performed using ¹³⁷Cs gamma source.Remarkably, the addition of only 0.5% tungsten oxide resulted in more than a 60% increase in the linear attenuation coefficient, an 80% reduction in the mean free path, and over an 80% decrease in the half-value layer, compared to pure PMMA. Importantly, the composite retained high optical transparency at low filler concentrations, making it an ideal candidate for transparent radiation shielding applications such as protective windows, protective screens, medical barriers, industrial monitoring panels, and protective eyewear. These findings highlight the strong potential of PMMA-WO₃ composites as effective, lightweight, and transparent gamma radiation shields.