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The usage of radiation is mandatory for modern life; in the same manner, controlling the outflow of harmful radiation is vital and could be achieved via employing a shielding material to eliminate any potential nuclear and radiation accidents and incidents. Considering this point, this study aims to manufacture composite samples based on waste marble as novel radiation shields. The physical and radiation shielding ability of the prepared shields were determined and analyzed. For this purpose, a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector was used to detect the incoming photons emitted from three point sources (Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60). The radiation attenuation factors for the new marble-based composites were measured for some energies, ranging from 0.06 to 1.333 MeV. We examined the effect of increasing the PbCO3 and CdO contents on the physical properties and radiation attenuation factors of the newly developed radiation shielding absorber. We found that the density of the samples increases from 1.784 to 1.796 g/cm3 when the CdO changes from 0 to 12.5 wt%. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) for all marble compositions has the maximum value at 0.06 MeV, while the LAC decreases with increasing energy. The highest LAC was found for Marb-3, with a composition of waste marble (50 wt%), polyester (25 wt%), PbCO3 (17.5 wt%), and CdO (7.5 wt%). We studied the impact of the addition of CdO on the expense of PbCO3 and we found that the half value layer (HVL) decreases with increasing the CdO content. Hence, when there is no space problem, the newly developed radiation shielding absorber can be used to maintain the cost effectiveness and environmentally friendliness of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of five glass samples have a chemical composition of (55-x) B2O3 + 5 Bi2O3 + 20SrF2 + 20Na2O + xAg2O with varied doping ratios x = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mol% were fabricated using the melt quenching technique to study the effect of B2O3 replacement by Ag2O on the physical, mechanical, optical and gamma-ray shielding capacity of the fabricated glasses. The Cary 5000 UV–Vis–NIR measured the optical absorption in the wavelength range between 200 and 3000 nm. Based on the measured optical absorption, energy (direct/indirect) bandgap and Urbach energy were calculated. Moreover, the measured samples density, molar volume, packing density, dissociation energy, and mechanical properties for the fabricated glasses were calculated using the concepts of the Makishima-Mackenzie model. In this regard, the microhardness was decreased from 4.070 to 3.931 GPa with raising the Ag2O concentration. The effect of B2O3 replacement on the shielding capacity was also evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation results showed that the replacement of B2O3 causes a significant increase in the shielding parameters like linear attenuation coefficient and radiation shielding capacity. The best radiation shielding properties were achieved for a glass sample with 4 mol% Ag2O compound. Its linear attenuation coefficient varied between 8.091 and 0.134 cm−1, raising the gamma photon energy between 0.059 and 2.506 MeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a polymer-based radiation shield offers lightweight, low cost, non-toxic compared to lead and solution for eliminating generated secondary neutrons. Incorporating silicon (i.e., one of the most abundant elements) in new applications, such as shielding, would have an impact on the economy and industry. In this study, seven potential shielding materials, composed of silicon, silicon carbide, and boron carbide embedded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, are proposed. The shielding performance of these composite materials, including the attenuation coefficients (µ), the mass attenuation coefficients (µm), the half value layer (HVL), the mean free path (MFP), and the radiation protection efficiency (RPE) were examined using photon beams. Measured µm were verified against the calculated values. The averaged agreement was within ±7.4% between the experimental measurements and the theoretical calculation results. The HVL and MFP measured values for the polymer composites were lower than that for the pure EVA polymer, indicating the fillers in the polymers enhanced the shielding performance. The EVA + SiC (30%) and EVA + Si (15%) + B4C (15%) composites required the lowest thickness to stop 50% of the incident photons. The evaluation of experimental results of the RPE revealed that the polymer composites containing SiC (30%), Si (15%) + B4C (15%), or SiC (15%) + B4C (15%) succeeded in blocking 90–91% of X-rays at nearly 80 keV. However, a thicker shield of the proposed composite materials or combined layers with other high-Z materials could be used for higher energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have tested the potential of various polymer composites for use in radiation shielding. They are light and non-toxic compared to Pb and have potential as shielding in diagnostic radiology where low-energy photons are predominantly used. This study documents the production of four composites using the combination of a base, i.e. high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer, and four other elements/compounds, i.e. molybdenum, molybdenum carbide, tungsten, or tungsten carbide. The resulting composites were synthesized in the form of 20 disks, each with a thickness of 2 mm. The disks were irradiated by a kilovoltage X-ray source (1.5 cm2 field size). The mass attenuation coefficient (μ m), half value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), and equivalent atomic number of the disks were measured. We found that supplementing HDPE with additives enhanced the attenuation of beams; the μ m values of the composites were higher than that of the pure HDPE polymer. The μ m values of the measurement and calculation results were in good agreement with each other, with an average error of 5.2%. Among the three additive concentrations that were tested, i.e., 5, 10, and 15%, the 15% concentration in HDPE yielded the best shielding efficiency. Since they possess smaller values of HVL and MFP, the polymer composites containing W and WC performed the best at attenuating the radiation beams. • HDPE with Mo, W, MoC, and WC as additives can replace Pb as radiation shield. • Performance of HDPE with three additive concentrations, 5, 10, and 15%, was tested. • HDPE with 15 wt% of additives shows the highest radiation shielding efficiency. • W- and WC-HDPE composites are the best radiation shield against X-rays. • Proposed HDPE polymers are nontoxic, easy to mold, and lightweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments have assessed various polymer composites for radiation shielding in diverse applications. These composites are lighter and non-toxic when compared to lead (Pb), making them particularly effective in diagnostic imaging for shielding against low-energy photons. This study demonstrates the fabrication of four composites by combining a base material, specifically a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer, with 10% and 20% silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (SiC), respectively. Additionally, 5% molybdenum (Mo) was incorporated into the composites as a heavy metal element. The composites obtained were fabricated into 20 disks with a uniform thickness of 2 mm each. Discs were exposed to radiation from a low-energy X-ray source (32.5–64.5 keV). The chemical and physical properties of composites were assessed. The shielding ability of samples was evaluated by determining the linear and mass attenuation coefficients (μ and μm), radiation protection efficiency (RPE), half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP). According to our findings, supplementing HDPE with additives improved the attenuation of beams. The μm values showed that composite X-ray shielding characteristics were enhanced with filler concentration for both Si and SiC. Polymer composites with micro-molecule fillers shelter X-rays better than polymers, especially at low energy. The HVL and MFB values of the filler are lower than those of the pure HDPE sample, indicating that less thickness is needed to shield at the appropriate energy. HC-20 blocked 92% of the incident beam at 32.5 keV. This study found that increasing the composite sample thickness or polymer filler percentage could shield against low-energy radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with high atomic numbers are effective for shielding ionizing radiation. However, some, such as lead, are toxic, and their disposal causes environmental damage. Polymer composites are a good choice for radiation shielding because they are environmentally friendly, lightweight and non-toxic. This study investigated the possibility of using high-density polyethylenhe (HDPE) composites doped with three different materials comprising the carbide (such as tungsten carbide, and molybdenum carbide) and ceramic (silicon carbide) as a kilo-voltage radiation shield. The linear attenuation coefficients of the composites ranged from 0.21 to 2.82 c m − 1 . The measured results are in good agreement with XCOM with an average error of 13.82%. Through meticulous empirical analysis, including the assessment of linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP), our findings suggest that HDPE composites doped with 15% MoC present the most promising configuration for low-energy X-ray shielding (30–50 keV). This work concludes that HDPE composites decorated with MoC and W could be used as an alternative and environment-friendly material for shielding of kilo-voltage X-rays in medical diagnostics and research environments. • HDPE composites doped with WC, MoC & SiC are studied as a kilo-volt X-ray shield. • Measured attenuation properties of the composite show good agreement with XCOM data. • Composite containing heavy metal such as 15% MoC showed the highest attenuation in the 30–50 keV energy. • HDPE + MoC and WC composites offer an alternative for shielding of X-rays in medical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In respect of radiation exposure assessments, thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) represent a notable and important subset of passive detector technology, gaining widespread use over a period of many decades, not least for medical applications. TLDs are available in a range of physical and chemical forms, in particular the popularity of phosphor-based commercial products arising from features that include availability down to low mm dimensions, soft-tissue equivalence in some cases, and relatively low TL fading. Novel doped silica glass TL material fabricated as fibres also offer favourable responses, recent developments in co-doping leading to their ability to also provide for diagnostic radiology applications, adding to the attractive features of being impervious to water, of good sensitivity, and generally offering wide dynamic range. Thus said, doping and fibre fabrication involve relatively high costs. Accordingly, herein exploratory investigations are made of the cost-effective colourless silica-based glass medium from which marbles are made, reduced into chip form for ease of application, examining sensitivity to dose. In particular, the study focuses on the computerised tomography clinical application regime, 80- to 140 kVp, with excellent response being shown for doses within the range 2- to 50 mGy. • Off-the-shelf thermoluminescent silica glass media. • Easily formed into cost effective convenient chip dosimeters. • Elemental and glow curve analysis points to soda-lime glass. • Tested in clinical CT dosimetry applications regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to experimentally report the radiation attenuation factors for four different clays (red, ball, kaolin and bentonite clays) at four selected energies (emitted from Am-241, Cs-137, and Co-60). The highest relative difference in the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) is equal to −3.02%, but most of the other results are much smaller than this value, proving that the experimental and theoretical data greatly agree with each other. From the MAC results, the shielding abilities of the clay samples at 0.060 MeV follow the order of: bentonite > red > ball > kaolin. Thus, at low energies, the bentonite clay sample provides the most effective attenuation capability out of the tested clays. The half value layer (HVL) increases as energy increases, which suggests that, only a thin clay sample is needed to sufficiently absorb the radiation at low energies, while at higher energies a thicker sample is needed to shield the same amount of high energy radiated. Furthermore, bentonite clay has the lowest HVL, while the kaolin clay has the greatest HVL at all energies. The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) values at 0.060 MeV are equal to 97.982%, 97.137%, 94.242%, and 93.583% for bentonite clay, red clay, ball clay, and kaolin clay, respectively. This reveals that at this energy, the four clay samples can absorb almost all of the incoming photons, but the bentonite clay has the greatest attenuation capability at this energy, while kaolin clay has the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the structural, linear and nonlinear optical performance of PVA/graphene polymeric composites (PVA/Gr PCs) incorporated with lead oxide (Pb 3 O 4) have been modified by exposing with gamma irradiation (γ-irradiation). Pb 3 O 4 incorporated PVA/Gr PCs were prepared by the solution casting procedure and exposed to different γ-irradiation doses (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kGy). The structural and optical properties of the irradiated PCs were examined by FT-IR, XRD and UV–visible spectrophotometer. The XRD analysis reveals that the semi crystallinity feature of the PCs decreases with increasing the irradiation dose. The UV–Vis.-NIR measurements show that the optical absorbance of the PCs increases upon increasing the irradiation dose to 250 kGy. The direct optical bandgap energy shrinks from 5.26 eV (non-irradiated PC) to 4.82 eV (250 kGy irradiated PC). Obvious enhancement in the optical parameters (refractive index, dielectric (real ε r , imaginary ε i) constant and optical conductivity is achieved. Furthermore, the first-order linear susceptibility (χ(1)), third-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(3)) and nonlinear refractive index (n 2) of Pb 3 O 4 PCs are also tailored via controlling the γ-irradiation dose. This enhancement in the linear and nonlinear optical parameters of PCs was pronounced in the UV region. For instance, at 285 nm, χ(1) increases from 0.19 to 0.45 and χ(3) increases from 2.25 × 10−13 to 6.76 × 10−12 esu as the γ-irradiation dose is increased from 0 to 250 kGy. These findings nominate the potential applications of Pb 3 O 4 PCs in dosimetry and shielding devices. [Display omitted] • Pb 3 O 4 incorporated PVA/Gr PCs were prepared by the solution casting procedure and exposed to different gamma irradiation. • XRD analysis reveals that the semi crystallinity feature of the PCs decreases with increasing the irradiation dose. • The direct optical bandgap energy shrinks from 5.26 eV (non-irradiated PC) to 4.82 eV (250 kGy irradiated PC). • Enhancement in the linear and nonlinear optical parameters of PCs was pronounced in the UV region. • Our findings nominate the potential applications of Pb 3 O 4 PCs in dosimetry and shielding devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to discover the impact of the tellurium oxide on structural, physical, optical and radiation shielding properties of borate glass samples modified with BaO and MoO 3. The amorphous nature of each glass sample was proven by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was utilized to recognize the functional groups for TeO 2 and B 2 O 3. The results exhibit that the rise of TeO 2 ratio raises the density of glasses and decreases their bandgap. On the other hand, the sample BTM3 shows the highest durability results. Moreover, the radiation shielding features were studied for the fabricated glasses by determining the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and other related factors. The effect of both B 2 O 3 and TeO 2 on the attenuation performance of the fabricated specimens was discussed. The MAC results show that when we replace the B 2 O 3 with TeO 2 , the MAC increases, which means that the TeO 2 leads to enhancement in the shielding competence of these glasses. At 15 keV, the MAC is 22.39 cm2 g−1 for the free TeO 2 sample, while it is increased to 42.15 cm2 g−1 for the glass with 70 mol% of TeO 2. In addition, when the density changes from 3.4446 to 5.5057 g cm−3, the LAC enhances and changes from 77.14 to 232.05 cm−1 at 15 keV, from 16.81 to 51.81 cm−1 at 50 keV, from 0.309 to 0.511 cm−1 at 0.5 MeV and from 0.096 to 0.211 cm−1 at 15 MeV. The results in this work showed that the current glass samples exhibit good stability that nominates the fabricated samples for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]