No.5（2002）18.Development of radiation shielding materials using high specific gravity rubber

Takahiro YAMADA, Takashi SUZUKI, Masaharu NAKAGOME, Shinji ARAI and Yusuke NAKAGOME

Lead has been used mainly as a radiation shielding material. However, from the viewpoint of environmental health, the development of an alternative radiation shielding material is called for. Therefore, 63 elements were simulated to choose a shielding material possessing a higher ability to shield radiation than that of lead. Based on the simulation, chloroprene rubber was mixed with a metal powder (bismuth or bismuth oxide) and a high specific gravity rubber was made. A tensile strength test was carried out on the rubbers irradiated to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays(0,21,51,90kGy). From these results, it was found that the high specific gravity rubber containing bismuth or bismuth oxide, which is lead-free, was effective as a radiation shielding material.

Keywords
Radiation shielding material, Simulation, Bismuth, High specific gravity rubber, Lead-free

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