Improved radiation shielding properties of epoxy resin composites using Sb2O3 and Al2O3 nanoparticles additives

We developed Sb2O3 and nano-Al2O3-containing epoxy resin composites for radiation shielding purposes. Using a NaI(Tl) detector and a collimated gamma radiation method, the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) was determined. We reported the effects that the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles had on the radiation shielding capability of the present composites. When increasing the amount of Al2O3 from 5 to 20 w.t%, we observed that the LAC increased from 0.59 to 3.04 cm-1 at a given energy of 0.059 MeV. We determined that the Al2O3 NPs have significant effects on the LAC as well as on additional parameters, such as the half value layer, when the energy is 0.059 MeV. We noticed that the Al2O3 NPs has a slight impact on the LAC and HVL at 0.662 MeV, where the LAC improves from 0.077 to 0.097 cm-1. The HVL does not change significantly and it is in the range of 7.09-8.99 cm.