Enhancing Radiation Shielding Capabilities with Epoxy-Resin Composites Reinforced with Coral-Derived Calcium Carbonate Fillers

This study investigates the development of epoxy–resin composites reinforced with coral-derived calcium carbonate (CaCO3) fillers for enhanced radiation shielding and mechanical properties. Leveraging the high calcium content and density of coral, composites were prepared with filler weight fractions of 0%, 25%, and 50%. SEM and EDS analyses revealed that higher filler concentrations (50%) increased particle agglomeration, affecting matrix uniformity. Mechanical testing showed that while the tensile and flexural strengths decreased with the increased filler content, the compressive strength significantly improved, reaching 135 MPa at a 50% coral content. Radiation shielding evaluations demonstrated enhanced attenuation with a higher filler content, achieving 39.63% absorption at 60 kVp for the 50% coral composite. However, the shielding efficiency was notably lower compared to lead, which achieves over 99% absorption at similar energy levels. These quantitative comparisons highlight the material’s limitations in high-radiation environments but emphasize its suitability for moderate shielding applications. Despite their lower shielding efficiency, the composites provide an environmentally friendly and non-toxic alternative to lead, aligning with sustainability goals. Future work should focus on optimizing filler dispersion, mitigating agglomeration, and exploring hybrid systems to enhance the shielding efficiency and mechanical properties. The further quantitative evaluation of parameters such as Zeff and cross-sections is recommended to comprehensively assess the material’s performance.