Flexible Bi2O3-SiO2-Rubber composite for X-ray Shielding

To address lead-based material toxicity and limited low-energy (70–90 keV) X-ray shielding performance, this study developed a flexible silicone composite using methyl vinyl silicone rubber (VMQ) matrix. A Bi 2 O 3 -SiO 2 filler blend (50:10 wt%) was used to optimize its mechanical properties, which achieved 1.22 MPa tensile strength (about 307% improvement) and 373.5% at elongation break representing about 249% enhancement. The composite demonstrates a high linear attenuation coefficient of 1.7 9 cm -1 for 81 keV γ-rays and 0.375 cm -1 for 356 keV of a 133 Ba source. Thermal gravimetric analysis reveals exceptional stability for the Bi 2 O 3 /SiO 2 /VMQ (50:10:40 wt%) sample, showing 5% weight loss at 519°C and 63.2% residual mass at 800°C. The material combines effective radiation shielding (>99% attenuation at 2.75 cm for 81 keV), flexibility (>350% elongation), non-toxicity, and low density (1.08-1.84 g/cm 3 ) compared to lead (11.3 g/cm 3 ), offering a practical solution for nuclear safety. This research establishes foundational technology for producible, flexible radiation shielding, meeting demands in nuclear and medical applications.