A review on using nanocomposites as shielding materials against ionizing radiation

Abstract

Lead aprons are used in medical applications as a traditional shielding material, but this use was faced by many health problems including toxicity, heavyweight, and cracks, this motivated researchers to develop new shielding materials, to overcome these health problems depending on some promising materials, i.e., nanomaterials and polymers, which provide many properties that overcome the undesirable properties in lead aprons, and provide the proper or better shielding properties against ionizing radiation. Recently, nanomaterials in different forms have attracted considerable attention for radiation shielding applications, due to their prominent chemical and physical properties. This work will review the basics of radiation, radiation protection, lead aprons, nanomaterials, synthesis and characterization methods, polymers, and the scientific efforts to introduce nanocomposites as materials used in attenuation radiation beams and hence, to be used as proper radiation shielding materials.