Gamma ray attenuation of hafnium dioxide- and tungsten trioxide-epoxy resin composites...

Composites containing WO3 or HfO2 nanoparticles were prepared and investigated as alternative shielding materials. Their performance was assessed using radioactive sources emitting photons with energies between 122 and 1407 keV. At 122 keV, the mass attenuation coefficient of the nanocomposites was five times greater to that of the epoxy matrix, and it gradually decreased with increasing energy. An enhancement in the mass attenuation coefficient of the polymer between 15% and 50% was observed at E > 1 MeV when adding the nanoparticles. These results support the development of lightweight garments for radiological application made of nanomaterials and polymeric matrices.