High performance Aluminum matrix composite for radiation shielding

Aluminum-based metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) reinforced with ceramic particles have garnered considerable attention due to their unique combination of low density, high mechanical strength, and good ductility. In this study, Al-MMCs reinforced with zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) particles were fabricated via the stir casting technique to evaluate their gamma-ray (γ-ray) shielding capabilities. Three composite samples containing 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt% ZrO₂ (denoted as AlMFCSZr-5, AlMFCSZr-10, and AlMFCSZr-15, respectively) were prepared. ZrO₂ was selected as the reinforcing phase owing to its high atomic number, chemical stability, and favorable interaction with γ-radiation. Microstructural analysis using optical microscopy confirmed the uniform distribution of ZrO₂ particles within the aluminum matrix, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified the structural integrity and phase stability of the composites. Gamma-ray shielding performance was assessed using both the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulation code and the Phy-X/PSD software. The results showed that the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) increased with increasing ZrO₂ content, with the AlMFCSZr-15 composite exhibiting the highest shielding effectiveness. Specifically, AlMFCSZr-15 demonstrated higher value of the LAC (0.072) at an energy of 15 MeV as compared with base alloy (0.057) representing an approximately 26.3% improvement. These findings confirm the potential of ZrO₂-reinforced Al-MMCs as promising candidates for lightweight radiation shielding applications in aerospace, nuclear, and medical industries.