Nuclear radiation attenuation properties of PbO-doped polymeric composites

The current study is subjected to examine six synthesized polymeric samples (SPS); XPbO:(45-X)B₂O₃–05ZnO–50C₂H₃Cl_; (where x = 10–35 wt.%, step size of 5%) towards radiation attenuation as a comparative study. The investigated samples were characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The radiation attenuation performance was assessed using the Monte Carlo simulation code (MC) and validated using PhyX software. The amount of PbO in SPS was addressed through the radiation shielding by various parameters (e.g., linear attenuation coefficients (µ), etc.) in the photon energy from 0.015 to 15 MeV. In addition, the Fast Neutrons Removal Cross Sections (FNRCS) were determined. The values of µ were varied from (29.8451 to 0.0372), (39.0225 to 0.0422), (50.8618 to 0.0477), (67.3618 to 0.0583), (72.3134 to 0.0581), and (85.6818 to 0.0647) cm⁻¹ for the SPS [10PbO:35B₂O₃], [15PbO:30B₂O₃], [20PbO:25B₂O₃], [25PbO:20B₂O₃], [30PbO:15B₂O₃], and [35PbO:10B₂O₃], respectively at photon-energy up to 15 MeV. The sample [35PbO:10B₂O₃] has the highest µ values because of PbO content (35%) and high density. The FNRCS values for the SPS were ranged from 00.77 to 00.88 cm⁻¹. The sample [25PbO:20B₂O₃] has the highest value of FNRCS. The findings indicated the significant attenuation of γ-rays and neutrons radiation shielding potential of materials doped with PbO and showed that they should be used in radiological protection.