Comparison of gamma spectrometric method and XCOM method in calculating mass attenuation coefficients of reinforced polymeric composite materials

The most widely used technique for theoretical mass attenuation coefficient determination is using the data base called XCOM (Photon Cross Sections Database) while gamma spectrometry is one of the most used experimental techniques for identification of radioisotopes as well as determination of mass attenuation coefficients of the materials. However, XCOM database does not consider molecular and solid-state effects. The element cross sections pertain to only isolated neutral atoms. Thus, there may be incompatibility within experimental and XCOM results for complex composite structures. In this study, isophthalic unsaturated polyester based composites reinforced with high density materials (lead (II) oxide, tungsten trioxide, tungsten carbide, low density materials (boron carbide, silicon carbide) and natural mineral ores (ilmenite and hematite) were produced. The mass attenuation coefficients of produced composite materials were determined both experimentally by using gamma spectrometry method and theoretically by using XCOM software. The results were in good agreement for all composites while the agreement is increased with increasing reinforcement density, purity, loading ratio and interested gamma energy.

Automated summary

The most widely used technique for determining theoretical mass attenuation coefficients is the XCOM database, while gamma spectrometry is commonly used for experimental determination. This study compared the results obtained from both methods for composite materials and found good agreement, with higher agreement observed for composites with higher reinforcement density, purity, loading ratio, and gamma energy of interest.