Brass alloys improved with antimony additives for gamma-ray shielding applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Physics

Background:

• Traditional radiation shielding materials often pose toxicity or disposal challenges.
• Brass alloys (Cu-63, Zn-37) are widely used but can be improved for enhanced radiation resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of antimony (Sb) doping on the microstructural and radiation attenuation properties of brass alloys.
• To evaluate antimony-doped brass as a potential non-toxic radiation shielding material.

Main Methods:

• Brass alloys were modified with antimony content from 0% to 5%.
• Microstructural analysis (phase diagrams, grain boundary analysis) was performed.
• Radiation shielding parameters (MAC, Zeff, Neff, HVL, MFP) were measured experimentally and theoretically across photon energies (81-383.9 keV).

Main Results:

• Antimony doping led to dendritic structures and Sb accumulation at grain boundaries at higher concentrations.
• Increasing antimony content enhanced radiation absorption.
• The 5% Sb alloy exhibited the highest shielding effectiveness, with a 15.5% increase in Mass Attenuation Coefficient (MAC) at 81 keV compared to the standard alloy.

Conclusions:

• Antimony-doped brass alloys show enhanced radiation shielding properties.
• These alloys present a promising, non-toxic alternative for radiation shielding in nuclear, medical, and industrial sectors.