X-ray Shielding, Mechanical, Physical, and Water Absorption Properties of Wood/PVC Composites Containing Bismuth Oxide.

The potential utilization of wood/polyvinyl chloride (WPVC) composites containing an X-ray protective filler, namely bismuth oxide (BiO) particles, was investigated as novel, safe, and environmentally friendly X-ray shielding materials. The wood and BiO contents used in this work varied from 20 to 40 parts per hundred parts of PVC by weight (pph) and from 0 to 25, 50, 75, and 100 pph, respectively. The study considered X-ray shielding, mechanical, density, water absorption, and morphological properties.