Prediction of the transparency in the visible range of x-ray absorbing nanocomposites built upon the assembly of LaF3 or LaPO4 nanoparticles with poly(methyl methacrylate)

Fady El Haber (1) , Xavier Rocquefelte (1) , Christine Andraud (2) , Bouhalouane Amrani , Stéphane Jobic (1) , Olivier Chauvet (1) , Gerard Froyer (1)

1 IMN - Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel
2 INSP - Institut des Nanosciences de Paris

A theoretical multiscale approach combining density functional theory and four-flux calculations based on the radiative transfer theory is used to prospect the optical properties of nanocomposite materials composed of inorganic nanoparticles of lanthanum-containing compounds ( LaF 3 or LaPO 4 ) embedded in Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This theoretical investigation shows that a potential route to produce lead-free x-ray shielding screens with high transparency in the visible range ( > 70 % of incident light) may consist in incorporating colorless LaF 3 or LaPO 4 spherical particles with a diameter lower than 6 nm in a PMMA panel from a minimum thickness of 3 mm with a volumetric fraction of at least 10%. In terms of x-ray attenuation, this would lead to lead equivalency of 0.1 mm (lead foil).

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]; Polymères

Fady El Haber, Xavier Rocquefelte, Christine Andraud, Bouhalouane Amrani, Stéphane Jobic, et al.. Prediction of the transparency in the visible range of x-ray absorbing nanocomposites built upon the assembly of LaF3 or LaPO4 nanoparticles with poly(methyl methacrylate). Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 2012, 29 (3), pp.305-311. ⟨10.1364/JOSAB.29.000305⟩. ⟨hal-00866167⟩