Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

The new design of heavy concrete as neutron and gamma shield using galena, B4C, and nanomaterials

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Reza Pourimani
Saeed Ghahani
Parisa Nobakht
Iman Mirzae Moghadam

Department of Physics‎, ‎Faculty of Science‎, ‎Arak University‎, ‎Arak‎, ‎Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2023.397144.1136
Abstract
Today, with the development of nuclear technology and radiation therapy equipment, radiation protection is important. This study aimed to design heavy concrete with high compressive strength and effective protection against neutron and gamma rays. In this study, 11 types of concrete with different mixing designs including 88 samples were made. In these samples, iron ore aggregates galena, limonite, hematite, polypropylene fibers, nanoparticles, micro-particles of silicon, and B4C powder have been used. Concrete quality coefficient, compressive strength, gamma, and neutron attenuation coefficients were measured for all samples. Also, the neutron attenuation coefficient for all samples was calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation (MCNPX) code and compared with the experimental values. The density, neutron attenuation coefficient, and compressive strength of concrete samples varied from 2.37 to 3.17 g.cm-3, from 0.0162 to 0.0306 cm2.g-1, and from 48.0 to 81.3 MPa respectively. The linear gamma attenuation coefficient and gamma-ray tenth value layer (TVL) were obtained from 0.148 to 0.398 cm-1 and 15.74 to 5.85 cm respectively. These results showed that the highest neutron and gamma attenuation coefficients were obtained for concrete containing 70% galena iron ore and 20% boron carbide and the highest compressive strength belonged to sample G15 containing 15% galena iron ore and 1.8% boron carbide. G70 was the best concrete regarding the quality factor, defined as the product of multiplying the compressive strength and linear attenuation coefficients of neutron and gamma.

Highlights

  • Designing 11 types of heavy concrete using galena and hematite and limonite iron ore.
  • Measurement of neutron and gamma radiation attenuation coefficient.
  • Using B4C and various fibers to improve the quality of heavy concrete.
  • Simulations were performed using the MCNP code.
  • Very interesting results were obtained in comparison with other professional heavy concrete constructions.

Keywords

Heavy concrete
B4C
Galena
Limonite and Hematite aggregates
Gamma and neutron shielding
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2024
Pages 49-55

  • Receive Date 13 May 2023
  • Revise Date 01 July 2023
  • Accept Date 21 August 2023

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