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Gamma-ray, neutron and charged particle shielding characteristics of PbO-based vinyl chloride monomer composites
Z A Alrowaili1, E O Echeweozo2, Yasser Rammah3
1Department of Physics, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box:2014, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the impact of lead oxide addition on the gamma-ray, neutron and charged particle transmission properties of vinyl chloride for radiation shielding applications. These samples' radiation shielding capacities were theoretically analyzed using XCOM and FLUKA simulation setups at different photon energies. Relevant radiation shielding parameters of the investigated composites showed that VCM-Pb40 exhibited the highest shielding properties, with mass attenuation coefficients of 37.0949 cm2/g and 0.03104 cm2/g at 0.015 MeV and 15 MeV, respectively. The study also revealed that the VCM-Pb40 composite has a higher Thermal neutron cross-section value of 54.84671 cm-1 and fast neutron attenuation of 0.07682 cm-1, greater than other investigated polymer composites. Therefore, the VCM-Pb40 composite has shown good gamma-ray attenuation and commendable charged particle attenuation properties, and is recommended as a surface material in radiotherapy and nuclear research facilities design, where elegance and aesthetics are highly desired.
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