Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Development of a flexible composite based on vulcanized silicon casting with bismuth oxide and characterization of its radiation shielding effectiveness in diagnostic X-ray energy range and medium gamma-ray energies

  • Ibrahim Demirel (Ankara University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences (AU-NBE)) ;
  • Haluk Yucel (Ankara University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences (AU-NBE))
  • Received : 2023.09.15
  • Accepted : 2024.02.07
  • Published : 2024.07.25
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Abstract

The study aims to develop a novel, lead-free, flexible and lightweight composite shielding material against ionizing radiation. For this, it was used bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) in RTV-2 silicon matrix. The shielding tests were carried out in both diagnostic X-ray energies and intermediate gamma-ray energy range of up to 662 keV to determine the radiation attenuation properties of this material in terms of attenuation ratio, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path and lead equivalency of samples in weight of 30%, 40%, 50% in Bi2O3. In the diagnostic X-ray energy range, half value layer, tenth value layer and lead equivalency (in mm Pb) of the produced samples were measured at 80 and 100 kVp narrow beam conditions according to the requirements of EN IEC 61331-1 standard. The results show that lead equivalent values of the produced novel sheets was measured to be 0.16 mm Pb, corresponding to a 6 mm thickness of the flexible sample when it contains 30% wt. Bi2O3 in RTV matrix. The experimental findings for durability and flexibility also indicated that this new RTV-based flexible, lead -free shielding composite can be used safely for especially for manufacturing aprons, garments and thyroid guards used in mammography, radiology, nuclear medicine and dental applications in practice.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work is a part of the MSc Thesis of Mr. Ibrahim Demirel, whose supervisor is Prof. Dr. Haluk Yucel at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences of Ankara University(AU NBE). This work was partly supported by TUBITAK Project No: 116F308. The authors are thankful to the AU NBE since its infrastructure and the measuring equipment were used for achieving the research objective.

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