Nuclear Shielding Attenuation: polyethylene
Mass attenuation coefficients, linear attenuation coefficients, half-value layers (HVL), tenth-value layers (TVL), and buildup factors for gamma-ray and neutron shielding design. Covers lead, ordinary concrete, barite concrete, steel, water, polyethylene, borated polyethylene, and tungsten at gamma energies from 0.1 to 10 MeV. Neutron removal cross sections for fast and thermal neutrons. Sources: NIST XCOM database, ANSI/ANS-6.4.3-1991 buildup factors.
| shielding material | radiation energy key | HVL cm (cm) | TVL cm (cm) | buildup factor 10mfp (dimensionless) | buildup factor 1mfp (dimensionless) | buildup factor 2mfp (dimensionless) | buildup factor 5mfp (dimensionless) | density g per cm3 (g/cm3) | energy MeV (MeV) | linear attenuation coefficient per cm (1/cm) | mass attenuation coefficient cm2 per g (cm2/g) | mean free path cm (cm) | notes | radiation type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| polyethylene | gamma#0.1000 | 4.38 | 14.551 | 2.6 | 1.26 | 1.46 | 1.97 | 0.93 | 0.1 | 0.1582 | 0.1701 | 6.321 | Polyethylene density 0.93 g/cm3; mu/rho approximately water value at low energies (similar Z_eff); standard NIST XCOM composition PE=(C2H4)n | gamma |
| polyethylene | gamma#0.5000 | 7.803 | 25.92 | 11.6 | 2 | 3 | 6.2 | 0.93 | 0.5 | 0.0888 | 0.09548 | 11.26 | PE composition H:C similar to water for Compton; mu/rho from NIST XCOM PE mixture | gamma |
| polyethylene | gamma#1.0000 | 10.67 | 35.44 | 21.6 | 2.65 | 4.5 | 10.9 | 0.93 | 1 | 0.06494 | 0.06982 | 15.4 | NIST XCOM PE mixture values | gamma |
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