Comparison of gamma and neutron shielding competences of Fe–Cu- and brass-added Portland cement pastes: an experimental and Monte Carlo study


PERİŞANOĞLU U., KAVAZ E., Tekin H., Armoosh S., EKİNCİ N., OLTULU M.

Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing, vol.126, no.6, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 126 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s00339-020-03648-6
  • Journal Name: Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex
  • Keywords: Brass, Fe–Cu, Mass attenuation coefficient, Neutron, Portland cement, Shielding
  • Hakkari University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, Portland cement paste samples containing (Fe–Cu)x and brassx (where in x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20%) were manufactured and some physical and nuclear shielding properties were determined. Experimental measurements for determining the mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of the cement samples were accomplished by utilizing 133Ba radioactive source with HPGe detector. In addition, gamma transmission factor and μ/ρ values were simulated with MCNPX codes and the experimental results were checked with MCNPX and theoretical WinXCOM results. The largest μ/ρ values were achieved by 20% Fe–Cu- and brass-added samples varying between 0.344–0.098 and 0.363–0.099 cm2/g for 0.081–0.383 photon energy ranges, respectively. To extensively evaluate the photon shielding competences of the cement samples, other vital parameters such as HVL, MFP, Zeff and Nel derived from μ/ρ values were also calculated. It is seen that the highest Zeffs were obtained for 20% brass- and Fe–Cu-added samples, whereas for MFP and HVL and Nel values, the least values were obtained. Additionally, to estimate the neutron shielding effectiveness of the cement samples, effective removal cross section (∑R) values were obtained. The ∑R values varied between 0.1123–0.1349 and 0.1065–0.1361 cm−1 for Fe–Cu- and brass-doped samples, respectively. The data obtained from the current study showed that adding Fe–Cu and brass improves the nuclear shielding properties of the produced cement samples.