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. 2024 Aug 31;10(17):e37289.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37289. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.

Advanced polymeric matrix utilizing nanostructured bismuth and tungsten oxides for gamma rays shielding

Hamoud Kassim  1 , Saad Aldawood  1 , Saradh Prasad  1 , Nassar N Asemi  1 , Aziz A Aziz  1 , Mohamad S AlSalhi  1
Affiliations

Advanced polymeric matrix utilizing nanostructured bismuth and tungsten oxides for gamma rays shielding

Hamoud Kassim et al. Heliyon. .

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.

Keywords: Attenuation coefficients; Gamma radiation protection; Nanoparticle fillers; Polymer composites.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Fabricated polymer composite samples.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Scheme of the gamma-ray attenuation measurement system.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
XRD pattern of the gamma ray attenuator samples (a) PGMA, (b) B-NPs/PGMA, (c) W-NPs/PGMA, (d) BW-NPs/PGMA.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
SEM images of (a) PGMA, (b) B-NPs/PGMA, (c) W-NPs/PGMA, (d) BW-NPs/PGMA.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
LAC vs. gamma energy at different prepared PGMA, B-NPs/PGMA, W-NPs/PGMA, and BW-NPs/PGMA filled composites.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The experimental and XCOM MAC of the studied samples: (a) PGMA, (b) B-NPs/PGMA, (c) W-NPs/PGMA, (d) BW-NPs/PGMA.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
HVL as a function of gamma energy for the samples: PGMA, B-NPs/PGMA, W-NPs/PGMA, and BW-NPs/PGMA.
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