Shielding behaviors of some polymer and plastic materials for gamma-rays

Gamma-rays interaction parameters with six polymer and plastic materials have been computed and investigated for their shielding behaviours in the experimental energy range 10-1400 keV. Low mass-density and ability to transform into thin-sheets of H-containing plastic and polymer materials generate the curiosity for present study. Gamma Ray Interaction Coefficients (GRIC)-toolkit: a computer program designed in MS-Excel, 2007 for the investigation. The toolkit has the capability to compute different parameters linked to shielding properties of the sample-material such that; mass attenuation coefficients (mu/rho), mass energy absorption coefficients (mu(en)/rho), equivalent atomic number (Z(eq)), KERMA (kinetic energy released per unit mass). Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) seems to be the best shield for gamma radiations in energy range 10-110 keV. The interaction parameters for selected samples have been computed and provided in the extended energy range 0.015-15 MeV. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.