Gamma Attenuation and Mechanical Characteristics of a Lead/NBR/SBR Rubber Composite with Black Nanocarbon Reinforcement

Abstract

In this work, black nanocarbon-loaded 0–100 parts-per-hundred (phr) PbO-filled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blend composites were prepared by using an ordinary standard rubber mixer. Both mechanical and gamma attenuation properties of the prepared samples were investigated. Maximum tensile strength and elongation at break were obtained at 40 phr PbO concentration. The obtained values for the mass attenuation coefficient with the increased PbO concentration from 0–100 phr ranged from 0.12–0.22 cm2/g at 0.239 MeV. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with the elemental mapping analysis results showed high homogeneity at 40 phr of the prepared rubber composites, with some areas of elemental agglomeration at a high concentration of lead oxide. The obtained results highly recommend the use of the prepared nanocarbon-reinforced PbO/NBR/SBR blend compared to those previously used as personal protective equipment in radiation-shielding applications.