A close look for the γ-ray attenuation capacity and equivalent dose rate form composites based epoxy resin: An experimental study

The present work aims to develop new epoxy-based composites with halloysite, basalt, PbO, CuO, and Bi2O3 fillers. The role of the utilized fillers in the structural properties of the fabricated composites was studied using the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and scanning electron microscope. Additionally, the role of utilized fillers in reducing the equivalent dose rates from Co-60 and Cs-137 isotopes were experimentally examined where the equivalent dose rate values ranged between 1.95 μSv/h–1.36 μSv/h (for E@PbO), 1.88 μSv/h–1.31 μSv/h (for E@Bi2O3 composite), 1.97 μSv/h–1.43 μSv/h (for E@CuO composite), 1.96 μSv/h–1.46 μSv/h (for E@Halloysite composite), and between 1.94 μSv/h–1.47 μSv/h (for E@ Basalt composite), raising the composites’ thickness between 1.0 and 4.65 cm, at gamma-ray energy of 0.662 MeV. Based on the examined equivalent dose rate, the shielding parameters of the fabricated composites were evaluated where the radiation protection efficiency f reaches 36.4%, 33.2%, 31.8%, 38.8%, and 31.3% for epoxy resin reinforced by 25 wt% of PbO, CuO, halloysite, Bi2O3, and basalt, respectively, at gamma-ray energy of 0.662 MeV. The observed outcomes demonstrated that the radiation shielding parameters of low-cost epoxy resin with natural fillers (halloysite and basalt) are marginally inferior to those of CuO, PbO, and Bi2O3 fillers. These results support the feasibility of creating shielding polymer composites using natural fillers rather than expensive and hazardous heavy-weight fillers.