Method for developing radiation shielding compositions

A method for development of radiation shielding compositions, comprising the steps of:

• performing computational analysis on a computer to calculate a gamma radiation attenuation coefficient for at least nine distinct compositions, each of the compositions having a polymer matrix and functionalized particles of a single metal homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix in concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% w/w, respectively, in order to determine a concentration of the metal in the polymer matrix resulting in a maximum attenuation coefficient, thereby identifying the composition with optimal radiation shielding, wherein the polymer matrix comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polyparaphenylene terephthalamide and the metal particles are selected from the group consisting of lead, gadolinium, and bismuth;
• preparing a radiation shielding material using the composition identified as having optimal radiation shielding by computational chemistry;
• and
• repeating the steps of performing computational analysis and preparing a radiation shielding material for metals having radiation attenuating properties and having different toxicities and different weight, wherein the repetitive steps are performed and calculated for a plurality of energy levels, the energy levels range from 3,000 MeV to 50,000 MeV.