Enhancement of flame retardancy and radiation shielding properties of ethylene vinyl acetate based radiation shielding composites by EB irradiation

Highlights: • One kind of lead free radiation shielding polymer composite was fabricated. • Good distribution of filler within the EVA was achieved after 175 kGy irradiation dose. • The EVA composites show better properties after the electron-accelerator irradiation experiments. • The EVA composites can be used in the fields of radiation protection and fire preventive. -- Abstract: Flame-retardant radiation shielding composites were processed using EVA matrix with magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂), zinc borate (ZB) and bismuth oxide as filler materials. As filler content increased, the elongation at break and tensile strength of the materials decreased. Oxygen index (OI) of composites was higher than 27.2% when ZB content exceed 14 wt%. ${\mu }_m$ of materials gradually increased with the increase of bismuth oxide when tested by ¹³⁷Cs. On the contrary, ${\mu }_m$ of materials decreased with the increase of bismuth oxide when tested by ⁶⁰Co. Neutron shielding ratio of samples gradually increased with the increase of ZB when tested by Am-Be neutron source. Sample E with good comprehensive performances was selected and then modified by high energy EB irradiation. The mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and radiation shielding performances of modified composites were higher than those of the ordinary composites with the same filler mass fraction after being modified by electron beam irradiation with a dose of 175 kGy.