Extensive theoretical study of gamma-ray shielding parameters using epoxy resin-metal chloride mixtures

Abstract

Gamma-ray detection and studying its interactions with matter is very important and serves in many fields of research. Besides, investigation of new shielding materials against gamma-ray will provide a lot of solutions for several problems accompanied by the presence of radiation sources in wide areas of applications, such as industry, medicine, agriculture, research laboratories, and nuclear power plants. In the present work, different gamma-ray attenuation parameters will be calculated theoretically using different metal chlorides mixed with epoxy resin polymers at different weight ratios. These attenuation parameters were calculated in a wide energy range started from 0.05 up to 3 MeV. This wide energy range covers almost the most known radionuclide gamma-ray energies. The obtained results were compared with pure epoxy resin polymer to show how well the modification of polymer properties was when mixed with other materials. Also, all mixture's attenuation parameters results were compared with lead metal results to check its validity as a gamma-ray shielding material. The obtained results found to be promising and the presented materials can be used instead of lead metal as an effective material in radiation protection.

Polymeric composite materials for radiation shielding: a review

“…Mass attenuation coefficient ( μ m ) and other derived parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient, atomic, total and electronic cross section, effective atomic number, electron density, half-value layer, and tenth value layer ( μ, σ a , σ t , σ e , Z eff , N el, λ , HVL, and TVL) for few thermoplastic polymers with the help of NaI (Tl) detector and WinXCom program revealed good agreement between experimental, theoretical, and simulated values of all parameters confirming the competency of the tested polymers in nuclear medicine gamma shielding (More et al 2020a , b ). Also, using the same experimental setup, few polymers have been studied with the determination of mass attenuation coefficient, total cross section, molar extinction coefficient, effective atomic number, and electron density ( μ m , σ t , σ e , ε , Z eff , and N eff ) for gamma-ray shielding application using NaI (Tl) scintillation detector and XCOM program.…”

“…Researchers have investigated various radiation shielding materials to protect life and its surroundings from debasing consequences that occurred from radiation exposure under attenuation or absorption of unwanted radiations (Singh et al 2014a , b ; Al-Buriahi et al 2020 ; Levet et al 2020 ; More et al 2020a , b ; Rani et al 2020 ). Weight, space, cost, and attenuation or absorption capabilities of the materials used for radiological protection are key points that defy researchers to synthesize and develop appropriate shielding materials.…”

Gamma attenuation through nano lead - nano copper PVC composites

“…The use of radiation in many fields of our daily life has become a fact that people cannot avoid [1], [2]. It is very important and interesting to study new materials to protect people against radiation and to minimize the pollutants in our environment [3]. In the ongoing ages, the considering of attenuation of γ-beams by polymer composites has become an interesting field of research [4].…”

“…The values of linear attenuation coefficient (cm -1 ) and density (gm/cm3) for [40 wt.% CuO, 40 wt.% PbO and mix (20 wt.% PbO+ 20 wt.% CuO)] micro and nano particles.…”