Production and characterization of polymer composite materials with enhanced radiation shielding properties

In this study, the aim was to produce some polymer composites with improved radiation shielding properties and to investigate their radiation shielding properties. Samples were exposed to gamma radiation as a type of radiation and their shielding properties against gamma rays were evaluated. For this purpose, epoxy resin and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer were used as matrix materials in obtaining polymer composites, and copper (Cu), sodium pentaborate (NaB5O8) and barite (BaSO4) were used as fillers. Fillers were added to the polymer matrix at different rates and composite materials were obtained. In the first study, copper powder was added to the epoxy resin at different rates, and the composite was obtained by polymer casting method. In the next study, NaB5O8 and BaSO4 were added to the ABS polymer at different rates, and the composite was obtained using an extruder and injection machine. The radiation shielding properties, mechanical properties, microstructure imaging and thermal-mechanical properties of the polymer composite materials obtained in both studies were examined and characterized. The composites were examined for density, hardness (Shore D), gloss, water absorption and electrical conductivity, and SEM, DSC, TGA and FTIR analyses were performed. In the last study, natural polymers such as chitin, chitosan, hemp seed and hemp fiber were used to shape the composites using the press method and the radiation shielding properties of these natural polymers were examined. The results showed that in Cu/Epoxy composites with 1% to 4% copper particles added, the flexural strength and flexural elastic modulus increased compared to pure epoxy. The radiation shielding properties of Cu/Epoxy composites were examined for gamma rays with energies of 59.5, 661.6 and 1332.5 keV, and the best results were obtained for gamma rays with energies of 59.5 keV. In the study, the mechanical properties of NaB5O8/ BaSO4/ABS composites were examined and the composite containing 20% barite exhibited the best impact strength, tensile strength and elongation values. The results obtained from mechanical tests are supported by the observations obtained from SEM images. The linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, tenth-value layer and mean free path values of NaB5O8/BaSO4/ABS composites for gamma rays in the energy range of 59.5-1332.5 keV were examined. According to the measurement results, while the 20BaABS sample exhibited the highest linear attenuation coefficient value at 59.5 keV and 661.6 keV, the 5Na15BaABS sample showed the highest value at 1332.5 keV. At 59.5 keV energy, it was determined that the half-value thickness values in all composite samples had better gamma shielding ability than the pure polymer. The systems developed in the study were compared with the traditional radiation shielding systems in the literature and the results were evaluated. Keywords: Gamma radiation, Radiation shielding, Polymer composite