Radiation attenuation effectiveness of polymer-based radiation shielding materials for gamma radiation

Abstract

Polymer materials are increasingly being utilised in radiation shielding applications due to their unique characteristics such as flexibility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. These properties have attracted the attention of researchers who have been exploring the potential of these materials in such applications. Recently, new radiation shielding materials have been developed by incorporating elements into polymer matrices. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of lead-free polymer-based radiation shielding bricks in attenuating gamma radiation at 140 keV and 364 keV. The study evaluated the radiation shielding capability of five different polymer-based bricks, which were prepared using an open-mould casting technique with thicknesses of 0.7 cm and 1.4 cm. The bricks were fabricated by loading 90% filler powder and 10% epoxy resin and hardener. The filler powders used in this study were tungsten carbide, tungsten carbide cobalt, bismuth oxide, barium sulphate, and tin powder. The effectiveness of the fabricated bricks in attenuating gamma radiation was evaluated at 140 keV and 364 keV, and their microstructural properties were analysed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The study found that the newly developed polymer-based radiation shielding bricks can attenuate gamma radiation up to 98% at 140 keV and 65% at 364 keV of the incident gamma radiation. The FESEM analysis showed that the fillers were evenly distributed within the epoxy matrix. In conclusion, the incorporation of tungsten carbide, tungsten carbide cobalt, bismuth oxide, barium sulphate, and tin particles into the epoxy matrix improves the radiation shielding effectiveness of polymer-based materials, making them suitable for gamma radiation shielding applications.