Abualroos Nadin Jamal, Idris Mohd Idzat, Ibrahim Haidi, Kamaruzaman Muhammad Izzat, Zainon Rafidah
Department of Biomedical Imaging, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, SAINS@BERTAM, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Health Sciences Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jan 16;14(1):1375. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49842-3.
Polymeric based composites have gained considerable attention as potential candidates for advanced radiation shielding applications due to their unique combination of high-density, radiation attenuation properties and improved mechanical strength. This study focuses on the comprehensive characterisation of polymeric based composites for radiation shielding applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of tungsten carbide-based epoxy resin and tungsten carbide cobalt-based epoxy resin for its efficiency in shielding against gamma-rays ranging from 0.6 up to 1.33 MeV. Polymeric composites with different weight percentages of epoxy resin (40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt%, 25 wt%, 20 wt%, 15 wt% and 10 wt%) were fabricated, investigated and compared to conventional lead shield. The attenuation of the composites was performed using NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer to investigate the linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer, and mean free path. High filler loadings into epoxy resin matrix (90% filler/10% epoxy) exhibited excellent gamma shielding properties. Mechanical properties, such as hardness were examined to assess the structural integrity and durability of the composites under various conditions. The fabricated composites showed a good resistance, the maximum hardness was attributed to composites with small thickness. The high loading of fillers in the epoxy matrix improved the microhardness of the composites. The distribution of the filler powder within the epoxy matrix was investigated using FESEM/EDX. The results revealed the successful incorporation of tungsten carbide and cobalt particles into the polymer matrix, leading to increased composite density and enhanced radiation attenuation. The unique combination of high-density, radiation attenuation, and improved mechanical properties positions polymeric based composites as promising candidates for radiation protection field.
基于聚合物的复合材料因其高密度、辐射衰减特性和改进的机械强度的独特组合，作为先进辐射屏蔽应用的潜在候选材料而受到了广泛关注。本研究聚焦于用于辐射屏蔽应用的基于聚合物的复合材料的全面表征。本研究的目的是评估碳化钨基环氧树脂和碳化钨钴基环氧树脂在屏蔽0.6至1.33 MeV伽马射线方面的效率，以及它们的物理、机械和微观结构特性。制备了具有不同重量百分比环氧树脂（40 wt%、35 wt%、30 wt%、25 wt%、20 wt%、15 wt%和10 wt%）的聚合物复合材料，并进行了研究，与传统铅屏蔽进行了比较。使用碘化钠（铊）伽马射线光谱仪对复合材料的衰减进行了测量，以研究线性和质量衰减系数、半值层和平均自由程。在环氧树脂基体中高填充量（90%填料/10%环氧树脂）表现出优异的伽马屏蔽性能。对诸如硬度等机械性能进行了检测，以评估复合材料在各种条件下的结构完整性和耐久性。所制备的复合材料表现出良好的抗性，最大硬度归因于厚度较小的复合材料。环氧树脂基体中填料的高负载量提高了复合材料的显微硬度。使用场发射扫描电子显微镜/能谱仪（FESEM/EDX）研究了填料粉末在环氧树脂基体内的分布。结果表明碳化钨和钴颗粒成功地掺入了聚合物基体中，导致复合材料密度增加和辐射衰减增强。高密度、辐射衰减和改进的机械性能的独特组合使基于聚合物的复合材料成为辐射防护领域有前景的候选材料。
