DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PROPERTIES OF HEAVY MINERAL REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR RADIATION SHIELDING PROTECTION

Abstract

Heavy mineral and unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) based composite blocks were prepared for potential shielding of ionizing radiations. Locally available heavy minerals with Ilmenite, Magnetite, Garnet, Rutile, Zirconium contents were used to fabricate the composite blocks for the gamma photons with energies 0.662 MeV - 1.25 MeV. The shielding capacity was evaluated in terms of Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL), Sixteenth Value Layer (SVL), Linear attenuation coefficient, Mass attenuation coefficient, relaxation length and reduced % of radiation intensity. Comparative assessment between the characterized shielding material and the ordinary shielding material had performed based on the experimental observations. The magnetite composite exhibits relatively good attenuation performance in the case of 0.662 MeV photons of Cs-137. On the other hand, Zirconium composite demonstrates relatively good attenuation capacity in the case of 1.25 MeV photons of Co-60 in comparison to the ordinary concrete block. The goal of this work is to explore some novel materials to be effectively used as gamma shielding options in radiation facilities at minimal cost.