Development and characterization of polyethylene containing bismuth oxide powder as gamma ray shielding

The aim of this research is to introduce a composite consisting of polyethylene containing bismuth oxide powder and investigate its radiation shielding efficiency against X-rays and gamma photons . In this way, the parameters of mass attenuation coefficient (μ m ), effective atomic number (Z eff ), electron density (N e ), and Half Value Layer (HVL) were investigated by experimental measurements and calculations with XCOM and Monte Carlo. The result shows that the addition of bismuth oxide to the high density polyethylene polymer significantly increases its N e , Z eff and therefore the μ m would be in the range of photoelectric energies. The rate of increase in μ m is lower compared to N e and Z eff . In the region of Compton energies, N e , Z eff and μ m are minimum and do not have significant sensitivity to bismuth oxide concentration. The addition of bismuth oxide to polyethylene polymer significantly reduces its Z eff thickness at an average rate of −0.48 cm/w Bi2O3 (%). • A composite consists of polyethylene and bismuth oxide as X-rays and gamma photons shield is introduced. • The mass attenuation coefficient , effective atomic number, electron density and HVL are investigated by experimental and calculation methods. • Addition of bismuth oxide to high density polyethylene polymer significantly increases its N e , Z eff and therefore the μ m is in the range of photoelectric energies. • Addition of bismuth oxide to polyethylene polymer significantly reduces its Z eff thickness.