Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flexible, lead-free, gamma-shielding materials based on natural rubber/metal oxide composites

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Properties such as gamma shielding, cure characteristics, and mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR) system with addition of oxides such as: iron (II, III) oxide (Fe3O4), tungsten (III) oxide (W2O3), or bismuth (III) oxide (Bi2O3) were studied for potential replacement of flexible lead (Pb), and introduced as gamma-shielding materials, to minimize risks caused by Pb. The results showed that increase in the content of oxides such as Fe3O4, W2O3, or Bi2O3 from 0 to 100, 300, and 500 parts/100 parts of rubber by weight (phr) increased the gamma attenuation coefficients, tensile modulus at 100% elongation, and hardness (Shore A), though they reduced the tensile strength and elongation-at-break. The composites also underwent thermal aging tests at 70 °C for 96 h. The results indicated slight reduction in the overall tensile properties. Specifically, for NR composites with 300 or 500 phr of Bi2O3, the mass attenuation coefficients (μ m) of these composites were the highest among other composites and even higher than lead sheets that were measured using the same set-up. The outcome of the results imply great possibilities of replacing hazardous lead-containing gamma-shielding materials with the investigated composites, while still providing safe and efficient gamma-shielding properties for the users.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kihlstrom L, Karlsson B, Lindquist C (1993) Gamma knife surgery for cerebral metastases. Implications for survival. Sterotact Funct Neurosurg 61:45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rogers CL, Shetter AG, Jeffrey AF, Smith KA, Han PP, Speiser BL (2000) Gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia: the initial experience of The Barrow Neurological Institute. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 47:1013–1019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. O’Keeffe S, Fernandez AF, Fitzpatrick C, Brichard B, Lewis E (2007) Real-time gamma dosimetry using PMMA optical fibres for applications in the sterilization industry. Meas Sci Technol 18:3171–3176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Puchooa D (2005) In vitro mutation breeding of anthurium by gamma radiation. Int J Agric Biol 7:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  5. Sangsiri C, Sorajjapinun W, Srinives P (2005) Gamma radiation induced mutations in mungbean. Sci Asia 31:251–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bertozzi W, Ledoux R (2005) Nuclear resonance fluorescence imaging in non-intrusive cargo inspection. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B 241:820–825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Taskin H, Karavus M, Ay P, Topuzoglu A, Hidiroglu S, Karahan GJ (2009) Radionuclide concentrations in soil and lifetime cancer risk due to gamma radioactivity in Kirklareli, Turkey. Environ Radioact 100:49–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Menzies D, Joshi R, Pai M (2007) Risk of tuberculosis infection and disease associated with work in health care settings [State of the Art Series, Occupational lung diseases in high- and low-income countries]. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 11:595–605

    Google Scholar 

  9. Strauss KJ, Kaste SC (2006) The ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) concept in pediatric interventional and fluoroscopic imaging: striving to keep radiation doses as low as possible during fluoroscopy of pediatric patients—a white paper executive summary. Radiology 240:621–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Arons AB, Peppard MB (1965) Einstein’s proposal of the photon concept-a translation of the annalen der physic paper of 1905. Am J Phys 33:367–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Christillin P (1986) Nuclear Compton scattering. J Phys G Nucl Phys 12:837–851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hubbell JH (2006) Electron–positron pair production by photons: a historical overview. Radiat Phys Chem 75:614–623

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Singh KJ, Singh N, Kaundal RS, Singh K (2008) Gamma-ray shielding and structural properties of PbO–SiO2 glass. Nucl Instr Methods Phys Res B 266:944–948

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kaundal RS, Kaur S, Singh N, Singh KJJ (2010) Investigation of structural properties of lead strontium borate glasses for gamma-ray shielding applications. Phys Chem Solids 71:1191–1195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. El-Kameesy SU, El-Zaiat SY, Youssef GM, Abd El-Kawy FS (2016) Gamma ray and neutron shielding properties of lead borate glass containing sodium, aluminium and zinc oxides. Glob J Phys 4:395–399

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harish V, Nagaiah N, Prabhu TN, Varughese KTJ (2009) Preparation and characterization of lead monoxide filled unsaturated polyester based polymer composites for gamma radiation shielding applications. J Appl Polym Sci 112:1503–1508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gwaily SE, Madani M (2002) Lead–natural rubber composites as gamma radiation shields. II: high concentration. Polym Compos 23:495–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Seregin IV, Ivanov VB (2001) Physiological aspects of cadmium and lead toxic effects on higher plants. Russ J Plant Physiol 48:523–544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Demayo A, Taylor MC, Taylor KW, Hodson PV, Hammond PB (1982) Toxic effects of lead and lead compounds on human health, aquatic life, wildlife plants, and livestock. Crit Rev Environ Control 12:257–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Needleman HL, Landrigan PJ (2004) What level of lead in blood is toxic for a child? Am J Public Health 94:8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Singh VP, Badiger NM, Chantima N, Kaewkhao J (2014) Evaluation of gamma-ray exposure buildup factors and neutron shielding for bismuth borosilicate glasses. Radiat Phys Chem 98:14–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Singh AK, Singh RK, Sharma B, Tyagi AK (2017) Characterization and biocompatibility studies of lead free X-ray shielding polymer composite for healthcare application. Radiat Phys Chem 138:9–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nambiar S, Osei E, Yeow JTW (2012) Polymer nanocomposite-based shielding against diagnostic X-rays. J Appl Polym Sci 131:4939–4946

    Google Scholar 

  24. El-Khayatt AM, Ali AM, Singh VP (2014) Photon attenuation coefficients of heavy-metal oxide glasses by MCNP code, XCOM program and experimental data: a comparison study. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A 735:207–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tekin HO, Singh VP, Manici T (2017) Effects of micro-sized and nano-sized WO3 on mass attenuation coefficients of concrete by using MCNPX code. Appl Radiat Isot 121:122–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ramesan MT (2015) Effects of magnetite nanoparticles on morphology, processability, diffusion and transport behavior of ethylene vinyl acetate nanocomposites. Int J Plast Technol 19:368–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ramesan MT (2015) Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/magnetite nanocomposites: interaction of some liquid fuels, thermal and oil resistance studies. Polym Polym Compos 23:85–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ninyong K, Wimolmala E, Sombatsompop N, Saenboonruang K (2017) Potential use of NR and wood/NR composites as thermal neutron shielding materials. Polym Test 59:336–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jaiyen S, Phumsuwan A, Thongpool V, Phunpueok A (2017) Determination of radiation attenuation coefficient of rubber containing barite. Appl Mech Mater 866:204–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. El-Sabbagh SH, Yehia AA (2007) Detection of crosslink density by different methods for natural rubber blended with SBR and NBR. Egypt J Solids 30:157–173

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zhao F, Bi W, Zhao S (2011) Influence of crosslink density on mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanizates. J Macromol Sci B 50:1460–1469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang Z, Zhang X, Wang F, Lan X, Zhou Y (2016) Effects of aging on the structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the silicone rubber current transformer insulation bushing for a 500 kV substation. SpringerPlus 5:790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Nelson G, Reilly D (2017) Gamma-ray interactions with matter. http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/n/n1/panda/00326397.pdf. Accessed 1 June 2017

  34. Sharaf JM, Salah H (2015) Gamma-ray energy buildup factor calculations and shielding effects of some Jordanian building structures. Radiat Phys Chem 110:87–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Graduate Program Scholarship from the Graduate School, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. We would also like to acknowledge the support from the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University and the Rubber Technological Test Center, Central Region, Bangkok, Thailand.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Donruedee Toyen, Anawat Rittirong, Worawat Poltabtim & Kiadtisak Saenboonruang

Authors
  1. Donruedee Toyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anawat Rittirong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Worawat Poltabtim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kiadtisak Saenboonruang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kiadtisak Saenboonruang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Toyen, D., Rittirong, A., Poltabtim, W. et al. Flexible, lead-free, gamma-shielding materials based on natural rubber/metal oxide composites. Iran Polym J 27, 33–41 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0584-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-017-0584-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation