Flexible, chemically bonded bismuth/tungsten-based polyvinyl alcohol-polyvinyl pyrrolidone composite for gamma and neutron shielding application

Abstract

In this paper, the gamma and neutron shielding behavior of chemically bonded high atomic number (Z), tungsten trioxide-polyvinyl alcohol-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PW), and bismuth oxide-polyvinyl alcohol-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PB) composites were reported at varying thickness. The PW and PB composites were prepared through the dissolution technique rather than the commonly used dispersion technique. The gamma and neutron attenuation characteristics of the composites were studied using 22Na (0.511 and 1.274 MeV energy) and 252Cf (0–10 MeV energy) sources, respectively. The half value layer of PW and PB composite was found to be 61.22 ± 0.914 mm and 48.29 ± 1.52 mm and the linear attenuation coefficient was found to be 0.115 and 0.144 cm−1 at 0.511 MeV, respectively. Further, the experimental gamma-ray attenuation results were validated theoretically using Phy-X software and found to be well in agreement with the experimental data. Both the composites also showed similar neutron shielding behavior when compared to the commercially used high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The developed composites possess good mechanical properties as they did not show any cracks or wrinkles after undergoing 5400 bending cycles during the flex test, showing their high durability of flexibility. Thus, these composites are found to be suitable for shielding both, the gamma-rays and neutrons.