Styrene-based unsaturated polyester-tungsten(VI) oxide composites: Preparation and investigation of their radiation shielding and thermal properties

Abstract

In this study, the thermal and radiation shielding properties of composites obtained using different ratios of tungsten(VI) oxide unsaturated polyester were investigated. Composites were prepared using WO3.2H2O powder in different ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.), and based on Styrene unsaturated polyester were used as resins. The linear attenuation coefficients of the composites were measured by the NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry system. The attenuation coefficients were also calculated theoretically by the XCOM platform, taking into consideration the basic analysis of composites, and compared with empirical outcomes. According to the results of XRD and particle size distribution of WO3.2H2O powder demonstrated had obvious diffraction peaks and its pore size distribution values were good. When the thermal degradation curves of the composites are examined, it is seen that the remaining ash amounts of the prepared composites and the % mass of the prepared composites overlap. It was clear that the best shielding material in the studied composites was styrene-based unsaturated polyester +50% WO3.2H2O with a higher linear attenuation coefficient.