Computational study of gamma ray attenuation parameters of polymers using Phy-X/PSD and WinXcom Programs

This work sheds light on the attenuation of gamma rays by various polymer types, which identifies their potential suitability for further investigation as radiation-shielding materials. Gamma-ray attenuation behavior of a broad range of polymers such as (dimethyl sulfoxide, polyethyleneimine, high-density polyethylene, and polymethyl pentane) were investigated using the Phy-X/PSD code and the well-established XCOM program across several gamma-ray sources and an extended energy range (0.01 - 3 MeV). Among the polymers analyzed, for gamma-ray-in the purpose of gamma-ray shielding, the most suitable polymer used for gamma-ray shielding was found to be dimethyl sulfoxide compared to others. This method showed better performance with its high mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number. In addition, the results indicate that the half-value layers, tenth-value layers, and the mean free path are less in depth for dimethyl sulfoxide; this signifies its superior shielding ability and its potential use in radioprotective purposes. Additionally, this work underscores the relationship between polymer composition and photon-matter interactions and the need to utilize appropriate materials in accordance with relevant gamma-energy ranges during radiation protection-related applications.