Evaluating radiation shielding effectiveness of selected plastic and polymer via attenuation coefficient

The vast advancing medical, industrial, and nuclear fields increased the demand for lightweight, costeffective, and ecological radiation shielding materials like plastic and polymers. Traditional metals, such as lead, can be harmful due to long-term exposure, as they possess toxic chemical properties that pose risks to both humans and the environment. This study aims to evaluate and compare the radiation shielding effectiveness of selected plastic and polymer materials by measuring their linear (μ) and mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) under gamma radiation (Cobalt-60). Several commercially available plastics and polymers (high-density polyethylene and polystyrene) were selected. In this study, experiments were conducted using a detector to measure the linear and mass attenuation coefficients of the materials. It was found that the linear attenuation coefficients were 0.16 cm⁻¹ and 0.08 cm⁻¹ for high-density polyethylene and polystyrene. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) was calculated using the Beer- Lambert law, and the results were compared to theoretical values from the NIST XCOM databases. Materials densities were measured to calculate the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ). This study concluded that Polystyrene (plastic) and High-Density Polyethylene (poly) were able to play a role in shielding against gamma radiation. A more comprehensive exploration of composites in pure compounds beyond the current standard could enhance their effectiveness, leading the way for various uses in radiation shielding technologies