Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites for X-Rays Shielding (Composites Science and Technology)

Contents
1 Introduction and Background
	1.1 Introduction
		1.1.1 Background
		1.1.2 Organisation of Chapters
	1.2 Literature Review
		1.2.1 Historical Foundations of X-Ray Shielding
		1.2.2 X-Ray Attenuation
		1.2.3 X-Ray Interactions with Matter
		1.2.4 X-Ray Energy
		1.2.5 Effect of Particle-Size on X-Ray Attenuation
		1.2.6 Advantages and Disadvantages of Commercial Lead Glass
		1.2.7 Other Commercial Polymer Composites for X-Ray Shielding
	References
2 Materials and Methodology
	2.1 Lead Oxide–Epoxy Composites
		2.1.1 Samples Preparation
		2.1.2 Density Measurements
		2.1.3 Measurement of X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients (μm)
		2.1.4 Powder Diffraction
		2.1.5 Optical Microscopy
		2.1.6 Scanning Electron Microscopy  (SEM)
	2.2 Tungsten Oxide—Epoxy Composites
		2.2.1 Samples Preparation
		2.2.2 Measurement of X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficient (μm)
	2.3 Ion-Implanted Epoxy
		2.3.1 Samples Preparation
		2.3.2 Ion-Implantation
		2.3.3 Ion Beam Analysis and Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS)
		2.3.4 Measurement of X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients (μm)
	2.4 Ion-Implanted Acrylic and Glass
		2.4.1 Samples Preparation
		2.4.2 Ion-Implantation
		2.4.3 Ion Beam Analysis and Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS)
		2.4.4 Measurement of X-Ray Linear Attenuation Coefficients (µm)
	2.5 Electrospun Bismuth Oxide/Poly-lactic Acid Nanofibre-Mats
		2.5.1 Materials
		2.5.2 Samples Preparation
		2.5.3 Measurements of Sample Thickness and Porosity
		2.5.4 Measurement of X-Ray Transmission
		2.5.5 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
	2.6 Micro-sized and Nano-sized Tungsten Oxide-Epoxy Composites
		2.6.1 Samples Preparation
		2.6.2 Measurements of X-Ray Transmission
		2.6.3 Powder Diffraction
		2.6.4 Flexural Tests
		2.6.5 Indentation Hardness Test
	2.7 Starch Filled Bi2O3–PVA Composites
		2.7.1 Materials
		2.7.2 Samples Preparation
		2.7.3 Density Measurements
		2.7.4 Measurement of X-Ray Transmission
	References
3 Microstructural Design of Lead Oxide–Epoxy Composites for Radiation Shielding Purposes
	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 Results and Discussion
		3.2.1 Density of Samples
		3.2.2 X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients
		3.2.3 Phase Compositions
		3.2.4 Microstructures
	3.3 Conclusions
	References
4 Synthesis and Characterization of Pb, Bi or W Compound Filled Epoxy Composites for Shielding of Diagnostic X-Rays
	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 Results and Discussion
		4.2.1 Density
		4.2.2 Effect of Filler Loading on the X-Ray Transmission (I/Io) by Epoxy-Based Composites
		4.2.3 Phase Compositions
		4.2.4 Microstructure Analyses
		4.2.5 Mechanical Properties
	4.3 Conclusions
	References
5 Effect of Particle Size, Filler Loadings and X-Ray Energy on the X-Ray Attenuation Ability of Tungsten Oxide–Epoxy Composites
	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Results and Discussion
	5.3 Conclusions
	References
6 Characterisation of Micro-Sized and Nano-Sized Tungsten Oxide-Epoxy Composites for Radiation Shielding of Diagnostic X-Rays
	6.1 Introduction
	6.2 Results and Discussion
		6.2.1 Characteristics of X-Ray Transmissions
		6.2.2 Crystallite Size
		6.2.3 Mechanical Properties
	6.3 Conclusions
	References
7 Synthesis and Characterization of Ion-Implanted Epoxy Composites for X-Ray Shielding
	7.1 Introduction
	7.2 Results and Discussion
		7.2.1 Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS)
		7.2.2 X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients
	7.3 Conclusions
	References
8 A Comparative Study of X-Ray Shielding Capability in Ion-Implanted Acrylic and Glass
	8.1 Introduction
	8.2 Results and Discussion
	8.3 Conclusions
	References
9 Characteristics of X-Ray Attenuation in Electrospun Bismuth Oxide/Poly-lactic Acid Nanofibre Mats
	9.1 Introduction
	9.2 Results and Discussion
		9.2.1 Thickness Measurement
		9.2.2 Porosity Measurement
		9.2.3 X-Ray Transmissions
		9.2.4 Microstructure Analyses
	9.3 Conclusions
	References
10 Effect of Bi2O3 Particle Sizes and Addition of Starch into Bi2O3–PVA Composites for X-Ray Shielding
	10.1 Introduction
	10.2 Results and Discussion
		10.2.1 Density of the Composites
		10.2.2 X-Ray Transmission by the Composites Without Starch
		10.2.3 Effect of Starch Addition on the X-Ray Transmission
	10.3 Conclusions
	References
11 Summary and Concluding Remarks
	11.1 Summary
		11.1.1 Filler Dispersion Within Epoxy Resins by Melt-Mixing Method
		11.1.2 Filler Dispersion Within Epoxy, Acrylic and Glass by Ion-Implantation Method
		11.1.3 Filler Dispersion Within PLA Nanofibre Mats by Electrospinning Method
		11.1.4 Effect of Starch Addition into PVA Composites
	11.2 Concluding Remarks