In this investigation, we explored the viability of a composite material consisting of cerium and bismuth oxides within a polymer matrix for radiation shielding applications. We assessed critical radiation shielding parameters, including the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), mean free path (mfp), and half-value layer (HVL), for varying concentrations of cerium oxide and bismuth oxide within the vinyl ester matrix. These evaluations were conducted using established computational tools, specifically XCOM and EpiXS.
The outcomes of our study revealed a noteworthy enhancement in the radiation shielding capabilities of the composite material when compared to the bare polymer. Notably, at a photon energy of 1 GeV, the mass attenuation coefficient exhibited a remarkable 109% increase when the composite contained 40% w/v cerium oxide. This outcome underscores the effectiveness of cerium oxide as a valuable radiation shielding filler, particularly for mitigating higher-energy radiation, such as cosmic radiation.