Potentiality of high Z doped PVA polymer as a gamma, neutron and charged particles shielding material

Abstract

The gamma, neutron and charged particle shielding behaviour of TaC, WC, HgO, PbO and Bi₂O₃ doped PVA polymers were studied. The gamma and neutron shielding parameters were calculated using EpiXS and NGCal software. Also, (stopping power and range) charged particles such as electrons, protons, alpha and carbon ions were calculated using the ESTAR and SRIM programmes. The increase in weight percent of TaC in PVA polymer increases the value of mass attenuation coefficient, and decreases the mean free path. Similar results were observed for WC, HgO, PbO and Bi₂O₃-doped PVA polymers. At 0.662 MeV, the mass attenuation coefficient of 50PVA+50TaC is 0.08960 cm²/g, 50PVA+50WC is 0.0902 cm²/g, 50PVA+50HgO is 0.0944 cm²/g, 50PVA+50PbO is 0.0958 cm²/g, and 50PVA+50Bi₂O₃ is 0.0964 cm²/g. The 50 wt% of Bi₂O₃ doped PVA shows a 35% enhancement in the values of mass attenuation coefficient and a 25% reduction of mean free path up to 100 keV in contrast to the 50 wt% of TaC doped PVA. It was discovered that 50 wt% of Bi₂O₃ doped PVA outperforms 50 wt% of TaC doped PVA, and these selected polymers are lighter than commercial shields. Therefore, 50 wt% of Bi₂O₃ doped PVA is a good gamma, neutron, and charged particles shielding material.

KEYWORDS:

• Gamma shielding
• polymers
• buildup factor
• radiation
• attenuation

Acknowledgements

NMB would like to thank KLE Technological University, Hubballi for funding the capacity building projects and also appointing GBH has a research associate in the project.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

G. B. Hiremath

G. B. Hiremath received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from Karnatak University, Dharwad, India. He worked as Research Associate in School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi and currently working as Assistant Professor in Department of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi. He has used Indus-2 synchrotron radiation to study L and M shell fluorescence parameters. His research interest includes X-ray fluorescence, experimental and theoretical work in radiation physics.

N. H. Ayachit

N. H. Ayachit is presently working as Director of School of Advanced Sciences at KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India. He worked as Registrar at KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India. He also worked as Professor of Physics and Dean of Basic Sciences at Ranichennamma University Belagavi, India. He has obtained his master and doctor degrees in Physics from Karnatak University Dharwad, India. He guided Ph.D students in the areas of microwave, antenna, D.S.P, cryptography, data mining, semiconductor, solar cells and conducting glasses. He has also worked in the area of nanoscience and engineering education. He has more than 150 publications in journals and conference proceedings.

N. M. Badiger

N. M. Badiger is presently working as Professor of Physics at KLE Technological University, Hubballi, India. He also worked as Lecturer and Reader in Physics, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Professor and Chairman, Dept of Physics at Karnatak University, Dharwad, India. He worked as Research Associate in nuclear reactions and involved in design and fabrication of 1.5 meter Scattering Chamber installed at IUAC New Delhi under the guidance of Prof N G Puttaswamy, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, India. He has been using 15UD pelletron accelerator available at IUAC, New Delhi for heavy ion nuclear reaction experiment and INDUS synchrotron facility, RRCAT, Indore for XRF and Cancer tissues. He has more than 160 publications in journals and conference proceedings.