No abstract

The gamma radiation shielding properties of lead monoxide filled polycarbonate composite materials for fourteen different filler levels (ranging from 0.25wt% up to 10wt%) have been studied theoretically by computing radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, half value layer and mean free path. The mass attenuation coefficient of gamma rays having specific energies (from 59.54 keV up to 1332.5 keV) has been calculated by using polynomial formula method and also by using two other methods, namely, Lagrangean interpolation method and Logarithmic interpolation method. Other shielding parameters like linear attenuation coefficient, mean free path, half value layer and tenth value layer have been calculated for these composites. The calculated values of mass attenuation coefficients fit well with NIST-XCOM data. The results suggest that, at higher filler levels, PbO filled PC composites can be good gamma shielding materials for ionizing electromagnetic radiation, especially in the low energy gamma or x-ray region.