Influence of magnetite, ilmenite and boron carbide on radiation attenuation of polyester composites

•Loaded polyester composites were investigated for radiation shielding.•Some mechanical and physical properties were examined.•Experimental and theoretical attenuation parameters were studied.•Experimental and theoretical (MCNP-4C2) results were in good agreement.

This work is concerned with studying polyester/ magnetite CUP/Mag (ρ=2.75 g cm−3) and polyester/ ilmenite CUP/Ilm (ρ=2.7 g cm−3) composites for shielding of medical facilities, laboratory hot cells and for various purposes. Mechanical and physical properties such as compressive, flexural and impact strengths, as well as, a.c. electrical conductivity, specific heat, water absorption and porosity have been performed to evaluate the composite capabilities for radiation shielding. A collimated beam from fission 252Cf (100 µg) neutron source and neutron-gamma spectrometer with stilbene scintillator based on the zero cross over method and pulse shape discrimination (P.S.D.) technique have been used to measure neutron and gamma ray spectra. Fluxes of thermal neutrons have been measured using the BF3 detector and thermal neutron detection system. The attenuation parameters, namely macroscopic effective removal cross-section ΣR, total attenuation coefficient µ and macroscopic cross-section Σ of fast neutrons, gamma rays and thermal neutrons respectively have been evaluated. Theoretical calculations using MCNP–4C2 code was used to calculate ΣR,μ and Σ. Also, MERCSF-N program was used to calculate macroscopic effective removal cross-section ΣR. Measured and calculated results were compared and reasonable agreement was found.