Brief Overview on Research and Development of Radiation Shielding Protective Composite Materials Based on Polystyrene

Abstract

Experimental samples of composite materials were made. These composites are based on polystyrene, which has been reinforced with powder of aluminum, with the addition of powder of tungsten for radiation shielding. The optimum modes of operations of production equipment were selected experimentally. Tensile testing of composite materials was carried out at temperatures of 250, 290, 320 К. The maximum tensile strength, at a temperature of 290 К, was a value 45 MPa. Composites with such strength are not destroyed when creating temporary or permanent radiation shielding structures. Using the code Geant4 v 4.9.6p03, calculations of the relative attenuation of the absorbed dose were performed. A layer of composite material 10 mm thick completely absorbs ionizing radiation with energies up to 100 keV. The energy for maximum half-attenuation level is 600 keV for solid layer and 300 keV for balls and loose layer.