Investigations on thermal and radiation shielding properties of the poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-styrene)/tungsten(VI) oxide composites

Abstract

In the current study, it was shown that Poly(HEMA-co-Styrene) composites holding tungsten (VI) oxide were formed in groups (10%–50%) by radical polymerization. For this goal, Styrene and HEMA reacted with AIBN for 2.5 h at 65 °C in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to give the consistent polymer. Synthesized Poly(HEMA-co-Styrene) were defined by FTIR, GPC (Mn = 17,100 g/mol PDI = 2.2) and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Poly(HEMA-co-Styrene) -tungsten (VI) oxide composites formed between 80 and 85 °C. The linear attenuation coefficients of the composites were measured by the NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry system. Attenuation coefficients were also estimated hypothetically by the XCOM platform, taking into account the fundamental analysis of composites and comparing them with empirical outcomes. Consistent with the consequences of SEM analysis, there is a homogeneous distribution among tungsten (VI) oxide units and Poly(HEMA-co-Styrene). Shielding parameters as the tenth value thickness, the half-value thickness, and the mean free path were acquired. Among the composites studied, the best protective material was PS +50% WO3 with lower absorption thicknesses and a higher linear slimming coefficient. Thermal degradation of unirradiated and irradiated polymer composites has also been examined.