Gamma-ray attenuation behaviors of hematite doped polymer composites

Abstract

The studies for protection from gamma radiation have gained speed in recent years. Researchers are in search of a new material without toxic effects such as lead (Pb) and its derivatives. In this study, the polymer composites having different ratios of hematite (25, 50, 75 and 100%) were prepared. To determine the gamma radiation attenuation characteristics of the prepared composites, some gamma-ray radiation attenuation parameters such as transmission factor, mass and linear attenuation coefficients, half and tenth value layers, mean free path, effective atomic number and electron density, energy absorption build-up factor and exposure build-up factor were obtained. The experimental measurements were performed using an HPGe detector and eight different radioactive sources. The photon energies emitted from these sources range from 59.5 keV to 1408.0 keV. The obtained experimental results were compared with the theoretical ones and small differences were observed among them within the limits of experimental uncertainty. It was observed that the mass attenuation coefficients of prepared composites doped with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% hematite in the range of 59.5-1408.0 keV photon energy were changed between 0.3301-0.0551, 0.4254-0.0545, 0.4943-0.0540 and 0.5461-0.0537 cm(2) g(-1), respectively. It was reported that the hematite (100%) polymer composite sample is a better gamma radiation shielding material than other prepared composites.