Styrene-based unsaturated polyester-tungsten(VI) oxide composites: Preparation and investigation of their radiation shielding and thermal properties

Abstract

In this study, the thermal and radiation shielding properties of composites obtained using different ratios of tungsten(VI) oxide unsaturated polyester were investigated. Composites were prepared using WO₃.2H₂O powder in different ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.), and based on Styrene unsaturated polyester were used as resins. The linear attenuation coefficients of the composites were measured by the NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometry system. The attenuation coefficients were also calculated theoretically by the XCOM platform, taking into consideration the basic analysis of composites, and compared with empirical outcomes. According to the results of XRD and particle size distribution of WO₃.2H₂O powder demonstrated had obvious diffraction peaks and its pore size distribution values were good. When the thermal degradation curves of the composites are examined, it is seen that the remaining ash amounts of the prepared composites and the % mass of the prepared composites overlap. It was clear that the best shielding material in the studied composites was styrene-based unsaturated polyester +50% WO₃.2H₂O with a higher linear attenuation coefficient.

KEYWORDS:

• Styrene-based unsaturated polyester
• WO₃.2H₂O
• polymer composite
• gamma-ray linear attenuation
• gamma-ray mass attenuation
• NaI(Tl) scintillation detector

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Berna Körpınar

Berna Körpınar is presently research assistant at Manisa Celal Bayar Unuversity. She graduated from Ege university's faculty of science, Department of Chemistry. Her research interests in composites, radiation shielding materials, photoinitiators, and polyesters.

Buket Canbaz Öztürk

Buket canbaz Öztürk is presently Professor at Ege University in İzmir İn Turkey. she graduated from Ege university's faculty of science, Department of physics. Her research interests in the measurement of natural radioactivity and neutron activation analysis.

N. Füsun Çam

N. Füsun Çam is presently Professor at Ege University in İzmir İn Turkey. she graduated from Ege university's faculty of science, Department of physics. Her research interests in the measurement of natural radioactivity and neutron activation analysis.

Hakan Akat

Hakan Akat is presently Professor at Ege University in İzmir İn Turkey. He graduated from Ege university's faculty of science, Department of Chemistry. He attended his carrier with prof Dr yusuf yagcı as a postdoctoral at Istanbul Technical University. His research interests in composites, radiation shielding materials, photoinitiators, and polyesters.