Preliminary analysis of gamma and neutron irradiation on sand and activated carbon by using SEM, XRD and SAXS

Abstract

Gamma and neutron irradiation effect on sand and activated carbon were studied in this paper intensively and, were found from various studies to have strong correlation between neutron fluence or gamma energy on physical and mechanical damage of materials. Sand and activated carbon were irradiated with neutron at Reactor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP) and gamma at Sinagamma Malaysia Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia). Morphological analysis was carried out on the irradiated elements using the SEM, XRD and SAXS which showed changes on the microstructure of irradiated samples. Irradiation of activated carbon showed increase in the numbers of pores while change of textural profile of the surface take place at gamma irradiated sand. XRD pattern graph did not indicate any changes, however the specific surface area for both irradiation materials decreased.