LDPE/Bismuth Oxide Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization and Application in X-ray Shielding

Abstract

Recently developed polymer-based composites could prove useful in many applications such as in radiation shielding. In this work, the potential of a bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanofiller based on an LDPE polymer was developed as lead-free X-ray radiation shielding offering the benefits of lightness, low-cost and non-toxic compared to pure lead. Three different LDPE-based composites were prepared with varying weight percentages of Bi2O3: 5%, 10% and 15%. The characterizations were extended to include structural properties, physical features, mechanical and thermal properties, and radiation shielding efficiency for the prepared nanocomposites. The results revealed that the incorporation of the Bi2O3 nanofiller into an LDPE improved the density of the composites. There was also a slight increase in the tensile strength and tensile modulus. In addition, there was a clear improvement in the efficiency of the shield when fillers were added to the LDPE polymer. The LDPE + Bi2O3 (15%) composite needed the lowest thickness to attenuate 50% of the incident X-rays. The LDPE + Bi2O3 (15%) polymer can also block around 80% of X-rays at 47.9 keV. In real practice, a thicker shield of the proposed composite materials, or a higher percentage of the filler could be employed to safely ensure the radiation is blocked.

Nanoceramic Composites for Nuclear Radiation Attenuation

“…The maximum compressive strength while considering economic aspects was found to be 33.47 Pa. The compressive strength was directly proportional to the constituents that form pore structure in the cementitious matrix [ 15 ]. From the SEM image depicted in Figure 6 , an increase in the porosity can be observed between the interfacial nanoparticles.…”

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of X-ray-Shielding Barium Sulfate Film for Medical Diagnosis Using PET Recycling and Multi-Carrier Principles

“…The performance and characteristics of medical radiation shields are mostly affected by the composition of the shielding material used and the dispersion density generated when mixing with other materials [37]. Additionally, the shields should be lightweight and made of thin films, as they are mainly used for manufacturing protective clothing.…”

Comparison of Shielding Material Dispersion Characteristics and Shielding Efficiency for Manufacturing Medical X-ray Shielding Barriers

“…The filling volume itself is affected by the filler input volume and the rotational speed of the screw extruder, and it could be expected that the slower the screw speed and the greater the input volume, the more difficult the dispersion. A previous study suggested speed control based on the front and rear directions of the screw, but in this study, a method to increase dispersion by controlling the flow rate per hour of the polymer resin and the input speed of the mixture was proposed [ 31 ]. Therefore, in this study, the degree of dispersion based on the input volume of mixed material per hour and the speed of the screw extruder were examined.…”