Assessing the efficacy of some heavy-metal infused concrete mixtures in gamma-ray and neutron shielding applications

Abstract

This study examines the radiation shielding properties of sixteen diverse concrete types encompassing both gamma-ray and neutron radiation. Concrete, a widely used material due to its low cost, high density, and efficient shielding capabilities, is investigated to determine how its varying compositions impact its ability to attenuate ionizing radiation. Utilizing the Phy-X/PSD software, the research analyses key parameters like mass attenuation coefficients, linear attenuation coefficients, and half-value layers, among others, to assess each concrete type's shielding efficiency. The findings reveal that concretes containing heavy metals such as iron and barium exhibit enhanced performance in absorbing photons, thus providing superior protection against radiation. Iron-Portland concrete demonstrated a high density of 5.80 g/cm³ and exhibited a mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of 35.14 cm2/g at 0.1 MeV, significantly higher than MAC of ordinary concrete (i.e., 17.24 cm2/g). Significantly, Iron-Portland and Barite Concrete are highlighted for their exceptional shielding abilities, with Iron-Portland showing a fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR) of 14.29 cm−1, compared to 11.11 cm−1 for ordinary concrete. It can be concluded that the high elemental mass fraction of iron (88.12 wt%) in Iron-Portland concrete, along with its significant density of 5.80 g/cm3, makes it the most advantageous for gamma-ray and neutron shielding applications due to its superior absorption and attenuation capabilities.