Fiber- reinforced concrete containing nano-TiO2 as a new gamma-ray radiation shielding materials

In this study, the compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), impact resistance, gamma-ray radiation shielding properties, and investigation of microstructure by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of concrete specimens produced from magnetite aggregate Fe3O4 containing 0.6% of polypropylene fiber (PPF) and various percentages of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% of nano titanium dioxide (nano TiO2) were evaluated. Also, the gamma-ray attenuation measurements were using two sources of Cs-137 and Co-60 with three gamma-ray energies of 662, 1173, and 1332 keV are conducted on the specimens. Some gamma-ray radiation shielding parameters such as the half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), the mean free path (MFP), linear attenuation coefficient (mu), and mass attenuation coefficient (mu(m)) were also examined in the gamma-ray attenuation. The results show that by increasing the (wt.) % of nano TiO2 by 0-8%,(a), the compressive strength and the UPV initially increased and then decreased,(b) The impact resistance for the first crack and the ultimate failure was firstly increased and then decreased, (c) The mu and the mu m continuously increased, (d) The HVL, TVL and the MFP decreased,(e). The percentage of the ray transmission is decreased so that specimens containing 8% of nano TiO2 had the lowest ray transmission percentage at every photon energy,(f) A lower thickness of the absorbent material was needed to decrease the photon energy.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the properties of concrete specimens made with magnetite aggregate Fe3O4 containing 0.6% of polypropylene fiber (PPF) and varying percentages of nano titanium dioxide (nano TiO2). Increasing the nano TiO2 content led to changes in compressive strength, UPV, impact resistance, and gamma-ray shielding properties, with improvements initially and subsequent decreases. This included increased linear attenuation coefficients and reduced ray transmissions, indicating enhanced radiation shielding capabilities with higher nano TiO2 content.