Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO

In this study, the efficiency of flexible composites consisting of viscous silicone rubber as matrix and micro- and nanoparticles of Bi2O3 and SnO2 as fillers was investigated. Four composites with a matrix/filler at 50:50 were prepared. The four samples are the liquid silicone rubber (LSR) material...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sayyed M. I., Almuqrin Aljawhara H., Al-Balawi Shoaa M., Hedaya Ali., Elsafi Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2025-07-01
Series:e-Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2025-0031
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850065752828149760
author Sayyed M. I.
Almuqrin Aljawhara H.
Al-Balawi Shoaa M.
Hedaya Ali.
Elsafi Mohamed
author_facet Sayyed M. I.
Almuqrin Aljawhara H.
Al-Balawi Shoaa M.
Hedaya Ali.
Elsafi Mohamed
author_sort Sayyed M. I.
collection DOAJ
description In this study, the efficiency of flexible composites consisting of viscous silicone rubber as matrix and micro- and nanoparticles of Bi2O3 and SnO2 as fillers was investigated. Four composites with a matrix/filler at 50:50 were prepared. The four samples are the liquid silicone rubber (LSR) materials with micro-Bi2O3, micro-Bi2O3, and nano-SnO, nano-Bi2O3, and nano-SnO, and both nano-Bi2O3 and nano-SnO are labeled as LSR-Micro, LSR-Micro/Nano, LSR-Nano/Micro, and LSR-Nano/Nano, respectively. The morphologies and the homogeny of the nanoparticles and the prepared composites were checked by scanning electron microscopy. The efficiency of shielding characteristics was investigated experimentally by the narrow-beam technique using a lead collimator, different gamma-point sources, and a semiconductor detector. The results showed that at both energies, the composites that contain a combination of micro- and nanoparticles have higher linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values than the composites with only micro- or nanoparticles. For example, at 0.060 MeV, the LACs are 5.592, 6.391, 6.412, and 6.202 cm−1 for LSR-Micro, LSR-Micro/Nano, LSR-Nano/Micro, and LSR-Nano/Nano, respectively, while at 0.662 MeV, they are, respectively, 0.185, 0.204, 0.210, and 0.199 cm−1. The prepared composites were compared with commercial lead aprons of different thicknesses, and the results demonstrated the efficiency of the prepared flexible composites against gamma radiation, in addition to their lightweight and environmental safety.
format Article
id doaj-art-d2aec38bb3ca4e1bbd1ae8fd2151f6f9
institution DOAJ
issn 1618-7229
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher De Gruyter
record_format Article
series e-Polymers
spelling doaj-art-d2aec38bb3ca4e1bbd1ae8fd2151f6f92025-08-20T02:48:55ZengDe Gruytere-Polymers1618-72292025-07-012510553235510.1515/epoly-2025-0031Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnOSayyed M. I.0Almuqrin Aljawhara H.1Al-Balawi Shoaa M.2Hedaya Ali.3Elsafi Mohamed4Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman, JordanDepartment of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O.Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi ArabiaGeneral Science Program, Deanship of support studies, Alasala University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Environmental Studies and Research, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, EgyptPhysics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 21511, Alexandria, EgyptIn this study, the efficiency of flexible composites consisting of viscous silicone rubber as matrix and micro- and nanoparticles of Bi2O3 and SnO2 as fillers was investigated. Four composites with a matrix/filler at 50:50 were prepared. The four samples are the liquid silicone rubber (LSR) materials with micro-Bi2O3, micro-Bi2O3, and nano-SnO, nano-Bi2O3, and nano-SnO, and both nano-Bi2O3 and nano-SnO are labeled as LSR-Micro, LSR-Micro/Nano, LSR-Nano/Micro, and LSR-Nano/Nano, respectively. The morphologies and the homogeny of the nanoparticles and the prepared composites were checked by scanning electron microscopy. The efficiency of shielding characteristics was investigated experimentally by the narrow-beam technique using a lead collimator, different gamma-point sources, and a semiconductor detector. The results showed that at both energies, the composites that contain a combination of micro- and nanoparticles have higher linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values than the composites with only micro- or nanoparticles. For example, at 0.060 MeV, the LACs are 5.592, 6.391, 6.412, and 6.202 cm−1 for LSR-Micro, LSR-Micro/Nano, LSR-Nano/Micro, and LSR-Nano/Nano, respectively, while at 0.662 MeV, they are, respectively, 0.185, 0.204, 0.210, and 0.199 cm−1. The prepared composites were compared with commercial lead aprons of different thicknesses, and the results demonstrated the efficiency of the prepared flexible composites against gamma radiation, in addition to their lightweight and environmental safety.https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2025-0031attenuation coefficientflexible aprongamma rayliquid silicone rubberradiation shielding efficiency
spellingShingle Sayyed M. I.
Almuqrin Aljawhara H.
Al-Balawi Shoaa M.
Hedaya Ali.
Elsafi Mohamed
Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
e-Polymers
attenuation coefficient
flexible apron
gamma ray
liquid silicone rubber
radiation shielding efficiency
title Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
title_full Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
title_fullStr Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
title_full_unstemmed Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
title_short Efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays: Silicon rubber with different sizes of Bi2O3 and SnO
title_sort efficiency of flexible shielding materials against gamma rays silicon rubber with different sizes of bi2o3 and sno
topic attenuation coefficient
flexible apron
gamma ray
liquid silicone rubber
radiation shielding efficiency
url https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2025-0031
work_keys_str_mv AT sayyedmi efficiencyofflexibleshieldingmaterialsagainstgammarayssiliconrubberwithdifferentsizesofbi2o3andsno
AT almuqrinaljawharah efficiencyofflexibleshieldingmaterialsagainstgammarayssiliconrubberwithdifferentsizesofbi2o3andsno
AT albalawishoaam efficiencyofflexibleshieldingmaterialsagainstgammarayssiliconrubberwithdifferentsizesofbi2o3andsno
AT hedayaali efficiencyofflexibleshieldingmaterialsagainstgammarayssiliconrubberwithdifferentsizesofbi2o3andsno
AT elsafimohamed efficiencyofflexibleshieldingmaterialsagainstgammarayssiliconrubberwithdifferentsizesofbi2o3andsno