Radiation shielding properties of concrete containing magnetite

In this study, linear attenuation coefficients of concretes containing different rates of basalt-magnetite aggregates were measured for gamma energies of 511, 662, 835, 1173, 1275 and 1332 keV emitted from 22Na, 137Cs, 54Mn and 60Co radioactive sources respectively, using the gamma spectroscopy system containing NaI(Tl) detector. According to the ratio of basalt-magnetite aggregate used in concretes, the variation of linear attenuation coefficient was investigated. The measured linear attenuation coefficient (mu) results were compared with the theoretical values obtained using the XCOM code. Experimental and theoretical results were observed to be compatible with each other. In addition, using the experimentally obtained linear attenuation coefficients, Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL), Mean free path (MFP) and radiation protection efficiency (RPE) values were also determined. It can be seen from those of results that the linear attenuation coefficients are linearly related to the basalt-magnetite ratio in the concrete. While it is also linearly related to radiation protection efficiency (RPE), inverse linear relations have been observed for the values of Half Value Layer (HVL), Tenth Value Layer (TVL) and Mean free path (MFP). It can be concluded that the using basalt-magnetite as aggregate in concrete is an important material to develop concrete in terms of radiation shielding.

Automated summary

In this study, linear attenuation coefficients of concretes containing different rates of basalt-magnetite aggregates were measured for gamma energies emitted from radioactive sources. The results showed a linear relationship between the linear attenuation coefficients and the basalt-magnetite ratio. The experimental and theoretical results were found to be compatible, indicating the importance of basalt-magnetite as an aggregate in developing concrete with radiation shielding properties.