Effect of colemanite mineral on gamma radiation attenuation properties of vinyl ester resin

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to experimentally and theoretically obtain the gamma radiation attenuation properties of vinyl ester resin (VE) containing different rates of colemanite (CO) mineral and to compare these results. In the first stage, experimental measurements were performed using a gamma spectroscopy system containing a NaI(Tl) detector at three different gamma energies (511, 835 and 1275 keV) emitted from two different radioactive sources (22Na and 54Mn). As a result of the experiments, linear attenuation coefficients (LACs) of VE samples were obtained. The variation of LACs according to the density of the samples were investigated. The obtained results showed that LACs increased the density of the VE samples increased. Using the experimental LAC results, the half (HVL) and tenth (TVL) value layer thickness, mean free path (MFP) and transmission rate values were calculated. In the second stage of the study, LACs were calculated theoretically with the help of XCOM code using the chemical contents of VE samples. As a result of the comparison of the LACs obtained experimentally and using the XCOM code, it was observed that they were in good agreement. In addition, the results obtained with the XCOM code gave information about the variation of the attenuation coefficient in different energy regions. Based on all these data, it was concluded that as the amount of colemanite in the vinyl ester resin examined in the study increased, the gamma radiation shielding performance increased.