THERMAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER LEAD OXIDE COMPOSITES AS GAMMA-RADIATION SHIELDS/

Styrene-butadiene rubber/lead oxide composites were prepared as gamma- radiation shields. The composites were prepared with three different t ypes of lead oxide, namely lead mono-oxide (PbO), lead dioxide (PbO2) and red lead oxide (Pb3O4). Concentrations of about 87-88wt% for the t hree lead oxides were used. The assessment of the linear attenuation c oefficient of the SBR/lead oxide composites for gamma-rays from differ ent gamma-radiation point sources was studied. The effect of accumulat ive irradiation doses up to 3000 kGy on the thermal and physico-mechan ical properties of the SBR rubber/lead oxide composites was also studi ed. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Limited.