Gamma-Ray Attenuation and Exposure Buildup Factor of Novel Polymers in Shielding Using Geant4 Simulation

• Published in: Materials 2021-09, Vol.14 (17), p.5051
• Main Authors: Alabsy, Mahmoud T., Alzahrani, Jamila S., Sayyed, M. I., Abbas, Mahmoud I., Tishkevich, Daria I., El-Khatib, Ahmed M., Elsafi, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Atomic properties; Attenuation coefficients; Electron density; Gamma rays; Heat resistance; Mathematical analysis; Normal distribution; Nuclear energy; Nuclear power plants; Parameters; Photons; Polybutylene terephthalates; Polychlorotrifluoroethylenes; Polymers; Radiation; Radiation shielding; Radioisotopes; Sensors; Simulation
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14175051

Polymers are often used in medical applications, therefore, some novel polymers and their interactions with photons have been studied. The gamma-ray shielding parameters for Polymethylpentene (PMP), Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), and Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) polymers were determined using the Geant4 simulation and discussed in the current work. The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) were simulated at low and high energies between 0.059 and 1.408 MeV using different radionuclides. The accuracy of the Geant4 simulated results were checked with the XCOM software. The two different methods had good agreement with each other. Exposure buildup factor (EBF) was calculated and discussed in terms of polymers under study and photon energy. Effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Neff) were calculated and analyzed at different energies. Additionally, the half-value layer (HVL) of the polymers was evaluated, and the results of this parameter showed that PCTFE had the highest probability of interaction with gamma photons compared to those of the other tested polymers.