Preparation and evaluation of gamma shielding properties of silicon-based composites doped with WO3 micro- and nanoparticles

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the shielding properties of silicon-based WO3 composites against gamma radiation. The filler particles in micro and nano-size were prepared with a wet chemical synthesis method. Consequently, different weight percentages of micro and nano WO3 composites (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, and 70 wt%) were produced. Structural and morphological characterizations of the composites were investigated using SEM and EDS analyses. Moreover, for the thermal characterization of the nanocomposites and to prove the thermal stability, TGA analysis was carried out. The results indicated that adding WO3 nanoparticles to the silicon matrix decreases the glass transition temperature of the composites. Additionally, shielding properties of the nano and micro composites were investigated using a NaI(Tl) scintillator detector at different photon energies and experimental results verified by MCNP Monte Carlo code and XCOM program. It was illustrated that, especially at lower energies, in both micro-and nanocomposites samples, by increasing the weight percentages of the filler particles, shielding abilities of the composites enhance appreciably.