Investigating the Radiation Shielding Properties of Iron Oxide-enhanced Heavy Concrete through Gamma Transmission Method

Abstract

This study investigates the radiation shielding properties of construction materials, with a focus on iron oxide (Fe₂O₃)-enhanced heavy concrete. It covers a range of Fe₂O₃ concentrations from 0% to 12.9% in concrete formulations and uses M200-grade standard samples as references. The study observes a linear increase in sample density as Fe₂O₃ content rises. A gamma transmission measurement system utilizing NaI(Tl) detectors assesses shielding effectiveness. It measures linear attenuation coefficients for concrete samples at 59.54 keV (²⁴¹Am), 661.7 keV (¹³⁷Cs), and 1332 keV (⁶⁰Co) energy levels. Precise measurements result from careful calibration of detectors and radiation sources, ensuring a focused gamma ray beam. The findings establish a direct correlation between linear attenuation coefficients and Fe₂O₃ content at each energy level. Notably, samples with the highest Fe₂O₃ concentration exhibit significant increases in attenuation coefficients, such as 19.6% (59.54 keV), 7.75% (661.7 keV), and 13.5% (1332 keV), compared to standard samples. These insights suggest the potential use of iron oxide-enhanced heavy concrete as effective radiation shielding in construction applications.