A novel process for making radiopaque materials using bauxite—Red mud

Abstract

Red mud, which is an aluminum industry waste, has been utilized 1 1 Patent applications for the developed process have already been flied in USA as well as in India vide Application no .US—11/026115/05 and 1888/Del/04, respectively. for making X-ray radiation-shielding materials. A novel method for making radiation shielding materials utilizing red mud and barium compound has been developed by ceramic processing route using phosphate bonding. The red mud based shielding materials (RMSM) are characterized for their X-ray attenuation characteristics. The shielding, i.e. half value thickness (HVT) for different energies of X-ray photons for RMSM have been computed and compared with conventionally used shielding materials namely concrete and lead, it is found that the (HVT) of the red mud based shielding materials, in comparison to concrete, is significantly very less for the various energies of X-ray photons. The X-ray powder diffraction studies confirmed the presence of celsian, bafertiste and iron titanium oxide as the major shielding phases in the RMSM. Scanning electron microphotographs have revealed the compacted and continued integrated morphological characteristics of the various shielding phases in the matrix of shielding materials. The mechanical properties namely compressive strength and impact strength evaluation test showed that RMSM meets the standard specifications laid down for radiation shielding concrete and ceramic tiles. Based on the above studies, it is found that RMSM, can preferably be used for the construction of X-ray diagnostic and CT scanner room to provide adequate shielding against X-ray photons.