A Study on the Radiation Shielding and Absorption Effects of Nonwoven Composites by Monte-Carlo Simulation Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiation attenuation effect due to reflection and refraction that occurs when radiation passes through the composite material through simulation. The gamma-ray shielding ability of composites with different structures, such as layered composite, fibrous composite, and particle-added composites, was compared. For the layered composites, regardless of the thickness, the gamma-ray attenuation effect due to the structure of the layered composite could not be seen. The simulated attenuation coefficient was found to be different than the theoretical value, which increased with the content of inorganic materials. Assuming that the cesium ions absorbed on the nonwoven fabric are located in the center of the nonwoven fabric and the radioactive material absorbent is used in an appropriate amount, it is expected that more than 50% of gamma rays emitted from radioactive cesium can be shielded. If the nonwoven composites have such a shielding ability, it is expected that after adsorbing 137Cs, the intensity of gamma rays due to the adsorbed radioactive cesium can be partially attenuated, thereby contributing to radioactive waste treatment.