Natural fibre high-density polyethylene and lead oxide composites for radiation shielding

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 185 - 195
• Main Authors: El-Sayed Abdo, A, Ali, M.A.M, Ismail, M.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Attenuation coefficient; Fibre–plastic composites; Neutron and gamma spectra; Removal cross-section; Removal cross-section; Fibre–plastic composites; Attenuation coefficient; Neutron and gamma spectra
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/S0969-806X(02)00470-X

Study has been made of the radiation shielding provided by recycled agricultural fibre and industrial plastic wastes produced as composite materials. Fast neutron and gamma-ray spectra behind composites of fibre–plastic ( ρ = 1.373 g cm −3) and fibre–plastic–lead ( ρ = 2.756 g cm −3) have been measured using a collimated reactor beam and neutron–gamma spectrometer with a stilbene scintillator. The pulse shape discriminating technique based on the zero-cross-over method was used to discriminate between neutron and gamma-ray pulses. Slow neutron fluxes have been measured using a collimated reactor beam and BF 3 counter, leading to determination of the macroscopic cross-section ( Σ). The removal cross-sections ( Σ R) of fast neutrons have been determined from measured results and elemental composition of the composites. For gamma-rays, total linear attenuation coefficients ( μ) and total mass attenuation coefficients ( μ/ ρ) have been determined from use of the XCOM code and measured results. Reasonable agreement was found between measured and calculated results.