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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
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Assessing Disaster Resilience of Concrete with Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Published on: November 14, 2025
γ-shielding performance and irradiation-induced changes of CeO2-barite concrete
Yucheng Zhou1, Yijian Zhan1, Xiaoming Chen2
1Shanghai Construction Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200080, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Mega Structure High-Performance Concrete, Shanghai, 201114, China.
Summary
Adding cerium dioxide (CeO2) to barite concrete slightly improves gamma shielding but can introduce pores. Silica fume addition mitigates these pores, enhancing concrete
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nuclear Engineering
- Civil Engineering
Background:
- Growing demand for effective radiation shielding materials for Generation-IV nuclear reactors and waste storage.
- Barite concrete is a key material, but its performance under irradiation needs optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of cerium dioxide (CeO2) and silica fume on the gamma-shielding and mechanical properties of barite concrete.
- Elucidate the microstructural mechanisms influencing these properties under long-term gamma irradiation.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of barite concrete mixes with varying CeO2 (0-20%) and silica fume (5%) content.
- Long-term 60Co gamma irradiation tests (1000 hours, ~730 kGy cumulative dose).
- Microstructural characterization using multiple techniques.
Main Results:
- 20% CeO2 increased the linear attenuation coefficient by ~2.8%, with limited overall shielding improvement.
- CeO2 accelerated calcium (aluminate) silicate hydrate (C-(A)-S-H) gel formation but created interfacial pores, mitigated by silica fume.
- Gamma irradiation densified the microstructure, reducing porosity (6-18%) and increasing C-(A)-S-H content (6-34%).
- No significant phase decomposition occurred at 730 kGy, indicating long-term structural stability.
Conclusions:
- CeO2 addition offers marginal shielding benefits but requires careful mix design.
- Silica fume effectively counteracts pore formation induced by CeO2.
- Gamma irradiation positively impacts barite concrete microstructure and stability.
- Findings support the development of optimized high-performance nuclear shielding concrete.
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