Gamma, charged particle and neutron shielding properties of polyethylene based thermoplastic compounds doped with titanate and zirconate additives

Knowing how efficient radiation shielding materials are being essential for a variety of uses, including nuclear power plants and medical imaging. This study examined the gamma and neutron shielding capabilities of thermoplastic polymers based on polyethylene and doped with titanate and zirconate additions. Over an energy range of 53.16–383.85 keV, experimental measurements were made of the compound's mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), mean free pathways (MFP), half-value layers (HVL), and effective atomic numbers (Z_eff). Additionally, a Am²⁴¹-Be fast neutron source with an activity of 10 mCi was used to measure neutron equivalent dose rates. The exposure buildup factor (EBF) and the neutron removal cross section (ΣR) were calculated theoretically. Assessment of a compound's appropriateness for nuclear security applications with an emphasis on its alpha and proton shielding capabilities. The neutron equivalent dose rate for the PP/PE was 9.4722%, while it was 37.9283% for the PP/PE/Zirconate. Based on gamma and neutron shielding efficiencies, the observed results suggest that polyethylene based thermoplastic compounds containing zirconate could be viable options for mask materials used in radiotherapy.