• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.1783-1790
• /
• 2023

Barium Bismuth Oxide Borate (BBOB) has been synthesized for the first time using solution combustion technique. SEM analysis reveal flower shape of the nanoparticles. The formation of the nanoparticles has been confirmed through XRD & FTIR studies which gives the physical and chemical structure of the novel material. The UV light absorption is observed in the range 200-300 nm. The present study highlights the radiation shielding ability of BBOB for different radiations like X/Gamma rays, Bremsstrauhlung and neutrons. The gamma shielding efficiency is comparable to that of lead in lower energy range and lesser than lead in the higher energy range. The bremsstrauhlung exposure constant is comparably larger for BBOB NPs than that of concrete and steel however it is lesser than that of lead. The beauty of BBOB nanoparticles lies in, high absorption of radiations and low emission of secondary radiations when compared to lead. In addition, the neutron shielding parameters like scattering length, absorption and scattering cross sections of BBOB are found to be much better than lead, steel and concrete. Thus, BBOB nanoparticles are highly efficient in absorbing X/Gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrauhlung radiations.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 2016

In this study, the mechanical properties and the neutron shielding rate of concrete with the borosilicate glass and the amorphous boron steel fiber were investigated. The measures of this investigation includes air contents, slump loss, compressive strength, static modulus of elasticity, compressive toughness, flexural strength, flexure toughness and neutron shielding rate. As a result, the neutron shielding rate of the concrete with borosilicate glasses increased even though the compressive strength and flexural strength decreased in comparison with that of plain concrete. Also, the mechanical toughness and the neutron shielding rate of the concrete with amorphous boron steel fiber increased in comparison with that of plain concrete.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.1062-1070
• /
• 2022

In the present communication, pure and stable α-Bismuth Oxide (Bi₂O₃) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by low temperature solution combustion method using urea as a fuel and calcined at 500℃. The synthesized sample was characterized by using powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. The PXRD pattern confirms the formation of mono-clinic, stable and low temperature phase α-Bi₂O₃. The direct optical energy band gap was estimated by using Wood and Tauc's relation which was found to be 2.81 eV. The characterized sample was studied for X-ray/gamma ray shielding properties in the energy range 0.081-1.332 MeV using NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer (MCA). The measured shielding parameters agrees well with the theory, whereas, slight deviation up to 20% is observed below 356 keV. This deviation is mainly due to the influence of atomic size of the target medium. Furthermore an accurate theory is necessary to explain the interaction of X-ray/gamma ray with the NPs.The present work opens new window to use this facile, economical, efficient, low temperature method to synthesize nanomaterials for X-ray/gamma ray shielding purpose.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.9
• /
• pp.3051-3057
• /
• 2021

The concrete is considered as an important radiation shielding material employed widely in nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, laboratory hot cells and other different radiation sources. The present research is dedicated to the shielding properties study of the ordinary concrete reinforced with different weight fractions of lead oxide micro/nano particles. Lead oxide particles were fabricated by chemical synthesis method and their properties including the average size, morphological structure, functional groups and thermal properties were characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS, FTIR and TGA analysis. The gamma ray mass attenuation coefficient of concrete composites has been calculated and measured by means of the Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methods. The simulation process was based on the use of MCNP Monte Carlo code where the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) has been calculated as a function of different particle sizes and filler weight fractions. The simulation results showed that the employment of the lead oxide filler particles enhances the mass attenuation coefficient of the ordinary concrete, drastically. On the other hand, there are approximately no differences between micro and nano sized particles. The mass attenuation coefficient was increased by increasing the weight fraction of nanoparticles. However, a semi-saturation effect was observed at concentrations more than 10 wt%. The experimental process was based on the fabrication of concrete slabs filled by different weight fractions of nano lead oxide particles. The mass attenuation coefficients of these slabs were determined at different gamma ray energies using ²²Na, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co sources and NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. The experimental results showed that the HVL parameter of the ordinary concrete reinforced with 5 wt% of nano PbO particles was reduced by 64% at 511 keV and 48% at 1332 keV. Reasonable agreement was obtained between simulation and experimental results and showed that the employment of nano PbO particles is more efficient at low gamma energies up to 1Mev. The proposed concrete is less toxic and could be prepared in block form instead of toxic lead blocks.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 2010

Traditionally, lead has been primarily used to shield the radiation in the hospital, because of its soft texture, durability and cost effectiveness. However, lead can be dangerous because of its toxicity when exposed to the human body, and it is classified as a heavy metal like cadmium, mercury, and arsenic etc. In order to compensate its noxious properties on the human body, researchers are trying to develop a radiation shield which has similar shielding efficiency and can also be manufactured in any form. In this study, sulfuric acid barium was mixed with fiber, rubber, and silicon all of which are harmless to the human body, tested, and evaluated for its ability of medical radiation shield. The result of this study showed that the sheet containing silicon and barium has the strongest shielding abilities.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2017

Background: Ionizing radiation is known to be harmful to human health. The shielding of ionizing radiation depends on the attenuation which can be achieved by three main rules, i.e. time, distance and absorbing material. Materials and Methods: The mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, Half Value Layer (HVL) and Tenth Value Layer (TVL) of X-rays (32 keV, 74 keV) and gamma rays (662 keV) are measured in Barium compounds. Results and Discussion: The measured values agree well with the theory. The effective atomic numbers ($Z_{eff}$) and electron density (Ne) of Barium compounds have been computed in the wide energy region 1 keV to 100 GeV using an accurate database of photon-interaction cross sections and the WinXCom program. Conclusion: The mass attenuation coefficient and linear attenuation coefficient for $BaCO_3$ is higher than the $BaCl_2$, $Ba(No_3)_2$ and BaSO4. HVL, TVL and mean free path are lower for $BaCO_3$ than the $BaCl_2$, $Ba(No_3)_2$ and $BaSO_4$. Among the studied barium compounds, $BaCO_3$ is best material for x-ray and gamma shielding.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.3268-3276
• /
• 2023

The practice of identifying the potential zones for mineral exploration in a speedy and low-cost method includes the use of satellite imagery analysis as a part of remote sensing techniques. It is challenging to explore the iron mineralization of a region through conventional methods which are a time-consuming process. The current study utilizes the Hyperion satellite imagery for mapping the iron mineralization and associated geological features in the Irikkur region, Kannur, Kerala. Along with the remote sensing results, the field study and laboratory-based analysis were conducted to retrieve the ground truth point and geochemical proportion to verify the iron ore mineralization. The MC simulation showed for shielding properties indicate an increase in the linear attenuation coefficient with raising the Fe₂O₃+SiO₂ concentrations in the investigated rocks where it is varied at 0.662 MeV in the range 0.190 cm^-1 - 0.222 cm^-1 with rising the Fe₂O₃+SiO₂ content from 57.86 wt% to 71.15 wt%. The analysis also revealed that when the γ-ray energy increased from 0.221 MeV to 2.506 MeV, sample 1 had the largest linear attenuation coefficient, ranging from 9.33 cm1 to 0.12 cm^-1. Charnockite rocks were found to have exceptional shielding qualities, making them an excellent natural choice for radiation shielding applications.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.949-959
• /
• 2021

The current study aims to explore the shielding properties of multi-component borate-based glass series. Seven glass-samples with composition of (80-y)H₃BO₃-10ZnO-10Na₂O-yBaO where (y = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mol.%) were synthesized by melt-quench method. Various shielding features for photons, neutrons, and protons were determined for all prepared samples. XCOM, Phy-X program, and SRIM code were performed to determine and explain several shielding properties such as equivalent atomic number, exposure build-up factor, specific gamma-ray constants, effective removal cross-section (Σ_R), neutron scattering and absorption, Mass Stopping Power (MSP) and projected range. The energy ranges for photons and protons were 0.015-15 MeV and 0.01-10 MeV, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) was also determined experimentally by utilizing two radioactive sources (¹⁶⁶Ho and ¹³⁷Cs). Consistent results were obtained between experimental and XCOM values in determining μ/ρ of the new glasses. The addition of BaO to the glass matrix led to enhance the μ/ρ and specific gamma-ray constants of glasses. Whereas the remarkable reductions in Σ_R, MSP, and projected range values were reported with increasing BaO concentrations. The acquired results nominate the use of these glasses in different radiation shielding purposes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.1585-1590
• /
• 2023

In this study, halloysite nanoparticles-doped epoxy resin was synthesised using the casting method. The MH-300A density metre revealed that the density of the fabricated composites changed from 1.132 to 1.317 g/cm³ as the halloysite nanoparticle concentration increased. The Fourier transform infrared was recorded for the synthesised composites. Furthermore, the γ-ray shielding properties of the synthesised composites were evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation and a theoretical programme, XCOM. The linear attenuation coefficient of the epoxy resin increased by 43% (at γ-energy of 15 keV) and 14% (at γ-photon energy of 662 keV) when the concentration of the halloysite nanoparticles was increased from 0 wt% to 40 wt%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.393-400
• /
• 2020

Unlike conventional radiographic examinations, angiointerventional procedures have a high risk of radiation exposure to patients or operators due to prolonged radiation exposure time. This study was undertaken to examine effects of reducing the radiation risk by applying dose reduction fiber (DRF) shielding cloth during angiography. To investigate the properties of DRF shielding cloth, we measured the scattered radiation below and above a human phantom using a glass dosimeter, at site distances 10 cm away from the irradiated field. The results obtained reveal a 15 ~ 31% reduction of scattered radiation in the irradiation field, and 53 ~ 70% reduced radiation measured after phantom transmission. Taken together, our data indicate that application of DRF shielding cloth for radiation reduction at non-procedural sites during interventional procedure results in reduction of scattered doses to patients and operators, without affecting the medical examinations. We propose the use of DRF shielding during angiointerventional procedures, in order to reduce the risk of radiation exposure of patients and operators.