Radiation shielding properties of silicon polymers

Abstract

We have studied the X-ray and gamma radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL), effective atomic number, electron density and specific gamma ray constant in some silicon polymers of different composition such as Polymer A- Poly dimethyl siloxane (C2H6OSi), Polymer B- Polymethyl Hydro silaxane (CH4SiO), Polymer C- Per hydro poly silaxane (H3SiN), Polymer D-poly dimethyl silaxane (C2H6Si), Polymer E− Methylsilses quioxane (C12H32O8Si8), and Polymer F- Silalkalyene polymer (SiC3H8). We have also measured the mass attenuation coefficient at gamma energies 84 keV to 1.3 MeV. We have also studied the neutron shielding properties such as coherent neutron scattering length, incoherent neutron scattering lengths, coherent neutron scattering cross section, incoherent neutron scattering cross sections, total neutron scattering cross section and neutron absorption cross sections in the silicon polymers. We have compared the shielding properties among the studied different silicon polymers. From the detail study, it is clear that the silicon polymer per hydro poly silaxane is good absorber for X-ray, gamma radiation and neutron. Hence, we suggest that the perhydropoly silaxane is good shielding material for X-ray, gamma and neutrons.