Study of electrophysical characteristics of lead‐natural rubber composites as radiation shields

Abstract The dependence of the attenuation of both gamma rays and neutrons on lead concentration in leaded‐natural rubber composites incorporated with paraffin wax and boron carbide as radiation shields was investigated. Moreover, the dc conductivity and swelling characteristics of the rubber vulcanizates and the effect of aging on them were studied. It was found that samples of 18 mm thickness incorporated with 20 phr of B₄C and 60 phr of paraffin wax can reduce the fast neutron beams by about 50%. For slow neutrons, the reduction was about 46%. The attenuated γ‐dose increased exponentially with increasing lead content.