Elastic rubber composites as shield against photons and neutrons

Abstract EN

A synthetic, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer monomer (EPDM) rubber reinforced with carbon-black (N-220) as a filler with the addition of different concentrations of lead powder (0-500 phr), was developed to be used as a radiation shielding against γ-rays.

experimental studies on the influence of γ-radiation on the target samples were carried out using 137CS (Eγ = 0.662 Mev) and (60Co with energies of 1.172 Mev and 1.332 Mev).

the attenuation coefficient and HVL were improved by two ways ; one by increasing the concentration of lead powder at constant thickness and the other by increasing the thickness of the composite samples at constant concentration of lead powder.

a high attenuation coefficient and HVL was obtained for 400 phr lead (μ = 0.0852 and 0.141 cm-1 for Eγ = 0.662, and 1.172 Mev respectively).

also a good results were obtained for HVL when using 400phr lead (HVL = 8.137, 4.915, and 5.627 cm for Eγ = 0.662, 1.172, and 1.332 Mev respectively).

for testing the moderating fast neutron emitted from 239Pu–9Be, samples containing 100, 200, and 300 phr lead and 25 phr borax were used.

the results showed good enhancement / improvement in the values of the total macroscopic cross section.

as a result of using the X.com program, it was found that the values of the linear and mass attenuation coefficients were in good agreement with the experimentation values for uniform and collimated beams.

however, this could not be confirmed for heterogeneous beams.