A new study from North Carolina State University in the United States shows that a new material composed of polymer compounds embedded in bismuth trioxide particles has great application potential and can replace traditional radiation shielding materials such as lead.
The bismuth trioxide compound is lightweight, can effectively shield ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, and can be quickly manufactured, making it a promising material for applications in aerospace, nuclear industry, medical imaging, and radiation therapy.
Researchers say that traditional radiation shielding materials, such as lead, are usually expensive, heavy, and toxic, causing harm to human health and the environment. This proof-of-concept study shows that the bismuth trioxide compound can play an effective role in radiation shielding, and at the same time can avoid the disadvantages of traditional shielding materials.
In this new study, the researchers demonstrated that they can use ultraviolet (UV) curing methods to make compounds without relying on more time-consuming high-temperature curing techniques.
Using UV curing methods, researchers can generate this brand-new compound in just a few minutes at room temperature, which lays the foundation for the rapid manufacture of radiation shielding materials. This is crucial for the development and application of this new material, because thermal polymerization is a common method of manufacturing high-polymer compounds, usually relies on high temperatures, and can often take hours or even days to complete. In contrast, the UV curing method not only satisfies speed, but also reduces costs.
The researchers used the UV curing method to create a polymer compound sample, in which the content of bismuth trioxide in the sample was as high as 44% of the total weight. Subsequently, the researchers tested the samples to determine whether the material's mechanical properties and whether it can effectively shield ionizing radiation.
After testing, the compound can effectively shield gamma rays, light weight and high strength. Researchers are currently working to further optimize the technology and look forward to obtaining the best performance from the material.