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Kassim H, Aldawood S, Prasad S, Asemi NN, Aziz AA, AlSalhi MS. Advanced polymeric matrix utilizing nanostructured bismuth and tungsten oxides for gamma rays shielding. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37289. [PMID: 39319145 PMCID: PMC11419918 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, the shielding properties of novel polymer composites, developed by integrating glycidyl methacrylate with nanoparticles of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and tungsten oxide (WO3), were explored. The ability of the composites to attenuate gamma radiation was evaluated by measuring the emissions from Ba-133, Co-60, Cs-137, and Na-22. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra were obtained for both the pure polymer glycidyl methacrylate and the samples containing nanostructures of Bi2O3, Bi2O3/WO3, and WO3, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the samples. The incorporation of Bi2O3 and WO3 nanoparticles into the polymer glycidyl methacrylate matrix significantly enhanced the composites' ability to attenuate gamma radiation, as demonstrated by the increased linear and mass attenuation coefficients. The results showed good agreement between the experiment and the XCOM database. The composites exhibited significant efficiency in attenuating lower-energy gamma rays, which is particularly advantageous in the medical and nuclear industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamoud Kassim
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad Aldawood
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saradh Prasad
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nassar N. Asemi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aziz A. Aziz
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad S. AlSalhi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box-2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Alabsy MT, Elzaher MA. Radiation shielding performance of metal oxides/EPDM rubber composites using Geant4 simulation and computational study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7744. [PMID: 37173378 PMCID: PMC10182101 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34615-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper aimed to evaluate the shielding performance of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber composites filled with 200 phr of different metal oxides (either Al2O3, CuO, CdO, Gd2O3, or Bi2O3) as protective materials against gamma and neutron radiations. For this purpose, different shielding parameters, including the linear attenuation coefficient (μ), mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), mean free path (MFP), half value layer (HVL), and tenth value layer (TVL), were calculated in the energy range between 0.015 and 15 MeV by using the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit. The simulated μ/ρ values were validated by the XCOM software to examine the precision of the simulated results. The maximum relative deviation between the Geant4 simulation and XCOM was not greater than 1.41%, confirming the accuracy of the simulated results. Based on μ/ρ values, other significant shielding parameters such as effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electron density (Neff), equivalent atomic number (Zeq), and exposure buildup factor (EBF) were also computed to explore the potential usage of the proposed metal oxide/EPDM rubber composites as radiation protective materials. The study demonstrates that the gamma-radiation shielding performance of the proposed metal oxide/EPDM rubber composites are increasing in the order of EPDM < Al2O3/EPDM < CuO/EPDM < CdO/EPDM < Gd2O3/EPDM < Bi2O3/EPDM. Furthermore, three sudden increases in the shielding capability in some composites occur at 0.0267 MeV for CdO/EPDM, 0.0502 MeV for Gd2O3/EPDM, and 0.0905 MeV for Bi2O3/EPDM composites. This increase in the shielding performance is due to the K absorption edges of Cd, Gd, and Bi, respectively. Regarding the neutron shielding performance, the macroscopic effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons (ƩR) was evaluated for the investigated composites using MRCsC software. The highest ƩR is obtained for Al2O3/EPDM, while the lowest ƩR is obtained for EPDM rubber with no metal oxide content. According to the obtained results, the investigated metal oxide/EPDM rubber composites can be employed as comfortable clothing and gloves designed for workers in radiation facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud T Alabsy
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abd Elzaher
- Department of Basic and Applied Science, Faculty of Engineering, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, P.O 1129, AL Alamien, Egypt.
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Xiao M, Qin Q, He X, Li F, Wang X. Shielding Capability Research on Composite Base Materials in Hybrid Neutron-Gamma Mixed Radiation Fields. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:2084. [PMID: 36903199 PMCID: PMC10004341 DOI: 10.3390/ma16052084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The 16N monitoring system operates in a mixed neutron-gamma radiation field and is subject to high background radiation, thus triggering instability in the 16N monitoring system measurement data. Due to its property of actual physical process simulation, the Monte Carlo method was adopted to establish the model of the 16N monitoring system and design a structure-functionally integrated shield to realize neutron-gamma mixed radiation shielding. First, the optimal shielding layer with a thickness of 4 cm was determined in this working environment, which had a significant shielding effect on the background radiation and improved the measurement of the characteristic energy spectrum and the shielding effect on neutrons was better than gamma shielding with the increase in the shield thickness. Then, functional fillers such as B, Gd, W, and Pb were added to the matrix to compare the shielding rates of three matrix materials of polyethylene, epoxy resin, and 6061 aluminum alloy at 1 MeV neutron and gamma energy. The shielding performance of epoxy resin as the matrix material was better than that of the aluminum alloy and polyethylene, and the shielding rate of boron-containing epoxy resin was 44.8%. The γ-ray mass attenuation coefficients of lead and tungsten in the three matrix materials were simulated to determine the best material for the gamma shielding performance. Finally, the optimal materials for neutron shielding and gamma shielding were combined, and the shielding performance of single-layer shielding and double-layer shielding in mixed radiation field was compared. The optimal shielding material-boron-containing epoxy resin was determined as the shielding layer of the 16N monitoring system to realize the integration of structure and function, which provides a theoretical basis for the selection of shielding materials in a special working environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xiao
- College of Nuclear Technology and Automation Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Qingao Qin
- College of Nuclear Technology and Automation Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Xin He
- College of Nuclear Technology and Automation Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Fei Li
- College of Nuclear Technology and Automation Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
- Applied Nuclear Technology in Geosciences Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610059, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- College of Nuclear Technology and Automation Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
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Darukesha B, Radhakrishna V, Rajanna K. Suitability of nanoparticles for gamma-ray applications. Appl Radiat Isot 2023; 191:110519. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Prabhu S, S. G Bubbly, Gudennavar SB. X-Ray and γ-Ray Shielding Efficiency of Polymer Composites: Choice of Fillers, Effect of Loading and Filler Size, Photon Energy and Multifunctionality. POLYM REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15583724.2022.2067867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Srilakshmi Prabhu
- Department of Physics and Electronics, Bangalore Central Campus, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - S. G Bubbly
- Department of Physics and Electronics, Bangalore Central Campus, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Shivappa B. Gudennavar
- Department of Physics and Electronics, Bangalore Central Campus, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Alshahri S, Alsuhybani M, Alosime E, Almurayshid M, Alrwais A, Alotaibi S. LDPE/Bismuth Oxide Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization and Application in X-ray Shielding. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13183081. [PMID: 34577982 PMCID: PMC8471621 DOI: 10.3390/polym13183081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently developed polymer-based composites could prove useful in many applications such as in radiation shielding. In this work, the potential of a bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanofiller based on an LDPE polymer was developed as lead-free X-ray radiation shielding offering the benefits of lightness, low-cost and non-toxic compared to pure lead. Three different LDPE-based composites were prepared with varying weight percentages of Bi2O3: 5%, 10% and 15%. The characterizations were extended to include structural properties, physical features, mechanical and thermal properties, and radiation shielding efficiency for the prepared nanocomposites. The results revealed that the incorporation of the Bi2O3 nanofiller into an LDPE improved the density of the composites. There was also a slight increase in the tensile strength and tensile modulus. In addition, there was a clear improvement in the efficiency of the shield when fillers were added to the LDPE polymer. The LDPE + Bi2O3 (15%) composite needed the lowest thickness to attenuate 50% of the incident X-rays. The LDPE + Bi2O3 (15%) polymer can also block around 80% of X-rays at 47.9 keV. In real practice, a thicker shield of the proposed composite materials, or a higher percentage of the filler could be employed to safely ensure the radiation is blocked.
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Acevedo-Del-Castillo A, Águila-Toledo E, Maldonado-Magnere S, Aguilar-Bolados H. A Brief Review on the High-Energy Electromagnetic Radiation-Shielding Materials Based on Polymer Nanocomposites. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9079. [PMID: 34445783 PMCID: PMC8396447 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22169079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper revises the use of polymer nanocomposites to attenuate high-energy electromagnetic radiation (HE-EMR), such as gamma radiation. As known, high-energy radiation produces drastic damage not only in facilities or electronic devices but also to life and the environment. Among the different approaches to attenuate the HE-EMR, we consider the use of compounds with a high atomic number (Z), such as lead, but as known, lead is toxic. Therefore, different works have considered low-toxicity post-transitional metal-based compounds, such as bismuth. Additionally, nanosized particles have shown higher performance to attenuate HE-EMR than those that are micro-sized. On the other hand, materials with π-conjugated systems can also play a role in spreading the energy of electrons ejected as a consequence of the interaction of HE-EMR with matter, preventing the ionization and bond scission of polymers. The different effects produced by the interactions of the matter with HE-EMR are revised. The increase of the shielding properties of lightweight, flexible, and versatile materials such as polymer-based materials can be a contribution for developing technologies to obtain more efficient materials for preventing the damage produced for the HE-EMR in different industries where it is found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Acevedo-Del-Castillo
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380494, Chile; (A.A.-D.-C.); (E.Á.-T.); (S.M.-M.)
| | - Ernesto Águila-Toledo
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380494, Chile; (A.A.-D.-C.); (E.Á.-T.); (S.M.-M.)
| | - Santiago Maldonado-Magnere
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380494, Chile; (A.A.-D.-C.); (E.Á.-T.); (S.M.-M.)
| | - Héctor Aguilar-Bolados
- Departamento de Polímeros, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 3349001, Chile
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Muthamma MV, Prabhu S, Bubbly SG, Gudennavar SB. Micro and nano Bi 2O 3 filled epoxy composites: Thermal, mechanical and γ-ray attenuation properties. Appl Radiat Isot 2021; 174:109780. [PMID: 34052516 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Polymer composites have attracted considerable attention as potential light-weight and cost-effective materials for radiation shielding and protection. In view of this, the present work focusses on development of lead-free composites of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin with micro (~ 10 μm) and nano (~ 20 nm) bismuth (III) oxide (Bi2O3) fillers, using solution casting technique. Thermal, mechanical and γ-ray attenuation properties of the composites were studied by varying the filler loading. Inclusion of the fillers into epoxy matrix was confirmed both structurally and morphologically by XRD and SEM, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the thermal stability of composites to be as high as 400 °C. The nanocomposites exhibited relatively higher thermal stability than their micro counterparts. Among the composites, 14 wt% nano-Bi2O3/epoxy composites showed highest tensile strength of 326 MPa, which is about 38% higher than 30 wt% micro Bi2O3/epoxy composites. Mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of the composites were evaluated at γ-ray energies ranging from 0.356 to 1.332 MeV. Nanocomposites showed better γ-ray shielding at all energies (0.356, 0.511, 0.662, 1.173, 1.280 and 1.332 MeV) than micro composites with same filler loading. These studies revealed the significance of nano-sized fillers in enhancing overall performance of the composites.
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Affiliation(s)
- M V Muthamma
- Department of Physics and Electronics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Central Campus, Bengaluru, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Srilakshmi Prabhu
- Department of Physics and Electronics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Central Campus, Bengaluru, 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - S G Bubbly
- Department of Physics and Electronics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Central Campus, Bengaluru, 560029, Karnataka, India.
| | - S B Gudennavar
- Department of Physics and Electronics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Central Campus, Bengaluru, 560029, Karnataka, India
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Belgin EE, Aycik GA. Preparation, characterization and comparative ionizing electromagnetic radiation performances: part I—metal oxide reinforced polymeric composites. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07245-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Mirji R, Lobo B. Study of polycarbonate–bismuth nitrate composite for shielding against gamma radiation. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07038-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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