Development of a γ-Ray Protection Material with Excellent Self-Cleaning Ability

Epoxy coatings with both self-cleaning and radiation protection functions have important application prospects in the nuclear industry. However, combining these two functions poses a significant challenge. To address this challenge, epoxy resin (EP) was modified with hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the matrix. Additionally, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane hydrophobically modified micrometer-sized bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) was used as a functional filler. By adjusting the roughness with a small amount of hydrophobic silica (SiO2), a superhydrophobic self-cleaning coating with γ radiation shielding capabilities was successfully developed. The resulting coating demonstrated exceptional self-cleaning properties, mechanical stability, and remarkable γ-ray shielding in tests.