Evaluation of TeO₂-modified concrete composites for enhanced gamma radiation shielding performance using Phy-X...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Solid State Physics

Background:

• Concrete is a widely used construction material, but its radiation shielding properties can be limited.
• Enhancing concrete's shielding effectiveness is crucial for nuclear facilities, medical imaging centers, and space applications.
• Incorporating heavy elements into concrete matrices is a promising strategy to improve photon attenuation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of tellurium dioxide (TeO2) incorporation on the radiation shielding, microstructural, and thermal properties of concrete composites.
• To evaluate the gamma-ray attenuation performance of TeO2-doped concrete across a range of photon energies.
• To correlate microstructural and thermal stability with radiation shielding efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of four concrete composite samples (C0.0Te, C0.5Te, C1.0Te, C1.5Te) with varying TeO2 content (0-1.5g) by replacing sand.
• Utilized Phy-X simulation software to analyze radiation shielding characteristics (e.g., linear attenuation coefficient - LAC) from 0.0395 to 1.46 MeV.
• Employed Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) for microstructural and thermal characterization.

Main Results:

• Sample density increased from 2.26 g/cm³ (C0.0Te) to 2.49 g/cm³ (C1.5Te) with higher TeO2 content.
• The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) improved from 0.415 cm⁻¹ to 0.517 cm⁻¹ at 0.122 MeV for the C1.5Te sample.
• SEM/XRD revealed enhanced crystallinity with barite and tellurium-rich phases; DTA/TGA confirmed improved thermal stability.
• The C1.5Te sample demonstrated superior gamma radiation shielding efficiency and structural integrity.

Conclusions:

• TeO2 incorporation effectively enhances the density and gamma radiation shielding performance of concrete composites.
• The microstructural analysis indicates improved crystallinity and phase formation contributing to better shielding.
• The C1.5Te composite exhibits excellent potential as a radiation shielding material due to its superior attenuation properties and thermal stability.