Study on the structure and γ ‐ray shielding performance of polypropylene/ PbO composites with heterogeneous networks

• Published in: Polymer composites 2024-09
• Main Authors: Tian, Bo, Zhao, Jie, Zhou, Na, Li, Jinfeng, Fan, Jizhuang, Du, Yunchen, Zhao, Hongtao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.29053

Polymer‐based radiation shielding materials are receiving more and more interests due to their desirable advantages in lightweight and maneuverability. Herein, we employ polypropylene (PP) as the matrix to construct γ ‐ray shielding composites through the embedment of PbO particles with a wet reaction melt blending method. From the changes in dynamic rheological behaviors and fracture surface of PP/PbO composite, it can be found that the gradient addition of PbO particles facilitates the formation of heterogeneous network structure with, and high PbO content may make the composites undergo a “liquid–solid” transition. Rheological temperature and time scanning show that both PbO content and heterogeneous network structure greatly contribute to the storage modulus ( G ') and thermal stability. The γ ‐ray ( 137 Cs) shielding tests manifest that BPP/PbO‐4 has the best shielding performance, whose thicknesses of half value layer ( HVL ) and tenth value layer ( TVL ) are 0.32 and 1.05 cm, respectively, obviously smaller than those shielding materials ever reported. The analyses on effective atomic number ( Z eff ) and effective electron density ( N E ) reveal that the good shielding performance of BPP/PbO‐4 benefits from its proper content and dispersion of PbO particles.