Development of Lead-Free Radiation Shielding Material Utilizing Barium Sulfate and Magnesium Oxide as Fillers in Addition Cure Liquid Silicone Rubber

Abstract

The radiological protection has the purpose of safeguarding the physical well-being of the user, preventing exposure to detrimental levels of ionizing radiation. This study introduces a novel, cost-effective category of lead-free elastomeric material designed for radiation shielding. The filler compounds utilized are notably lighter than conventional lead-based materials, enhancing user ergonomics during application. They comprise of a blend of barium sulfate combined or not with magnesium oxide with addition-cure liquid silicone rubber. To ensure the effectiveness of the radiation shielding, X-ray transmission measurements were performed for the different thicknesses of the materials and the results compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, the physical properties of the new materials, such as density, homogeneity, tensile strength, viscosity, and wettability, were also evaluated. The findings indicate that both materials fulfill the requirement for application in radiation protection garments.

Keywords

• ionizing radiation
• lead-free elastomeric radiological protection
• barium sulfate filler
• magnesium oxide filler
• addition cure liquid silicone rubber
• Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit