Boron containing polyvinyl alcohol/ polyethylene oxide/polyvinyl pyrrolidone composites: Preparation, characterization, gamma radiation shielding and gamma radiation effect on it's thermal properties

Abstract

The production of PVA/PEO/PVP-B4C and PVA/PEO/PVP-BN nanocomposites is presented in this study by adding certain proportions of boron nitride (BN) and boron carbide (B4C) to the polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)/polyethylene Oxide (PEO)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) blend. The percentages of BN and B4C nano powder in the PVA/PEO/PVP blend have been determined as 5%, 10% and 20%. Thermal characterizations were carried out with different techniques such as Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetry (TG). Surface, crystal structure and atomic percentage distribution analyzes of the obtained composites were performed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), and elemental analysis. 10 kGy gamma irradiation was performed on PVA/PEO/PVP-B4C and PVA/PEO/PVP-BN composites. The thermal behavior of the composites at this dose level was investigated. In addition, the radiation shielding properties of composite films obtained at 10 cm distances using Am-241 beam source were examined.