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Evaluation of the gamma radiation shielding performance of epoxy resin and Portland cement-based composites enriched with Bi2O3 additive fillers.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluation of the gamma radiation shielding performance of epoxy resin and Portland cement-based composites enriched with Bi2O3 additive fillers.
Authors: Moonkum, Nutthapong1 (AUTHOR), Thawornnittayakul, Aksarapak1 (AUTHOR), Tochaikul, Gunjanaporn1 (AUTHOR) gunjanaporn.t@rsu.ac.th
Source: Radiation & Environmental Biophysics. Mar2026, Vol. 65 Issue 1, p587-596. 10p.
Subject Terms: *Radiation shielding, *Bismuth oxides, *Radiation protection, *Attenuation coefficients, *Epoxy resins, *Cement composites
Abstract: Owing to the use of highly penetrating gamma radiation for medical proposes, radiation shielding is a crucial issue for radiological protection. Lead-free shielding materials are becoming more interesting to solve the disadvantages of lead (i.e., toxicity and heaviness). This study investigates the radiation shielding performance of epoxy resin (ER) and Portland cement (PC) composites enriched with bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) fillers at weight ratios of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, across photon energies ranging from 122 to 662 keV. The results indicate that higher Bi2O3 content enhances the linear attenuation coefficient (0.299 to 1.187 cm− 1), radiation protection efficiency (26 to 99%) and lead-equivalent thickness (0.16 to 2.1 cm), demonstrating improved radiation attenuation ability. The transmission factor (TF) was calculated for four different thicknesses of each composite, showing that thicker samples resulted in lower TF values (0.86%) compared to thinner ones (74.16%). Despite being thicker than the standard lead shielding; the composites are half of the weight. Among all tested samples, the ER/Bi50 composite demonstrated the most effective shielding potential. While no full economic or life cycle assessment was conducted, the use of non-toxic components and reduced weight suggests that ER/Bi50 may offer potential advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Thus, ER/Bi50 with 4 cm thickness is proposed as a promising lead-free alternative to conventional lead-based shielding materials for gamma ray attenuation in medical applications at energies below 356 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Description
Abstract:Owing to the use of highly penetrating gamma radiation for medical proposes, radiation shielding is a crucial issue for radiological protection. Lead-free shielding materials are becoming more interesting to solve the disadvantages of lead (i.e., toxicity and heaviness). This study investigates the radiation shielding performance of epoxy resin (ER) and Portland cement (PC) composites enriched with bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) fillers at weight ratios of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, across photon energies ranging from 122 to 662 keV. The results indicate that higher Bi2O3 content enhances the linear attenuation coefficient (0.299 to 1.187 cm− 1), radiation protection efficiency (26 to 99%) and lead-equivalent thickness (0.16 to 2.1 cm), demonstrating improved radiation attenuation ability. The transmission factor (TF) was calculated for four different thicknesses of each composite, showing that thicker samples resulted in lower TF values (0.86%) compared to thinner ones (74.16%). Despite being thicker than the standard lead shielding; the composites are half of the weight. Among all tested samples, the ER/Bi50 composite demonstrated the most effective shielding potential. While no full economic or life cycle assessment was conducted, the use of non-toxic components and reduced weight suggests that ER/Bi50 may offer potential advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Thus, ER/Bi50 with 4 cm thickness is proposed as a promising lead-free alternative to conventional lead-based shielding materials for gamma ray attenuation in medical applications at energies below 356 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:0301634X
DOI:10.1007/s00411-025-01166-8