Radiation is present in the environment and our bodies, and exposure can be harmful. Shielding is used to block radiation from reaching the occupants of rooms and buildings.
Radiation shielding materials need to have specific properties in order to be suitable for this purpose. Thomas Supplier Discovery has a number of suppliers that provide radiation shielding material and products.
Concrete
Concrete is a common construction material that can be used to shield radiation. The shielding ability of concrete is proportional to its density and thickness. Concrete is a cost-effective material that can be easily poured into the desired shape. It is also structurally sound and stable over time.
Concrete can be reinforced with various materials to improve its radiation shielding properties. It can be made stronger and more dense by using rebar, steel, iron, aluminum, or a combination of these materials. Concrete is one of the most affordable radiation shielding options. However, it does require a lot of space to build walls of the proper thickness.
Radiation-shielding concrete (RSC) is a concrete mixture designed to attenuate gamma rays and absorb neutrons. The shielding capability of RSC is enhanced by the addition of uranium aggregates and other low-atomic-weight atoms. These include slags, red mud, cathode ray tube glass, metallic wastes, fly ash, silica fume, and calcined clay.
Rocks
Typically, concrete is used as a shielding material, but researchers at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia have found that rocks can be just as effective. They compared several different varieties of serpentinite rock to brick and concrete for their ability to block radiation.
Using gamma rays with various energies, they determined the mass attenuation coefficient and half value layer (HVL) for each rock sample. The rock samples with the highest concentrations of iron performed the best. They were able to attenuate the photons with lower energies than the concrete and brick samples.
The team also tested a composite of recycled high-density polyethylene with lead oxide nanoparticles or bulk and found that the composite was able to attenuate low-energy gamma rays from 137Cs point sources. This research could result in the development of a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to concrete for radiation shielding.
Leaded Glass
Leaded glass and other types of specialized glass are invaluable for a number of reasons, including their ability to shield against harmful x-rays. These rays can damage the human body, but a lead-based shield system is a cost-efficient solution that allows medical and industrial professionals to safely operate equipment.
Lead is highly effective for this purpose because it is the densest of all naturally occurring elements. It also offers a wide range of mechanical, chemical and optical properties. However, it is crucial that the proper thickness of lead is selected for a given application. Too little, and the radiation will pass right through it; too much, and the additional weight could pose safety risks.
Sheet lead is often used to line ducts and other vertical surfaces, though the process requires careful consideration. A health physicist should be consulted to ensure the correct lead thickness is utilized. The ideal approach involves utilizing lead lined plywood, which features unpierced sheet lead laminated to the plywood. These panels are then hung in the desired location to provide optimal protection.
Clear Leaded Acrylic
Several polymer composite materials have been developed to serve as alternatives for lead and concrete in radiation shielding applications. Their superior properties include flexibility, ease of workability, good mechanical stability, high aspect ratio, and low cost. These materials can also be made in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can be used in different combinations to achieve desired shielding performances. They can be fabricated using conventional molding techniques. Unlike metals, they are not subject to changes in their physical properties as a result of radiation exposure.
For instance, a composite sheet of lead glass and high-density polyethylene can be used as an alternative to lead bricks in the construction of a shielded wall. It can also be used in a hung ceiling to ensure continuity of protection throughout an entire room. This is particularly important when an existing building has floor construction that does not allow for complete lead equivalence at the level of the ceiling. This is why it is critical to speak with a MarShield expert to help you find the right solution for your situation.
Metal Impregnated Polymers
Since traditional shielding materials such as concrete and lead are prone to problems like difficulty in molding, high cost and narrow absorption bands, researchers have been focusing on developing new polymer-based radiation shielding materials. These new materials can be easily molded into various shapes and have better mechanical, electrical, optical, radiation resistance and thermal properties than their metallic counterparts.
Polymers can be impregnated with a variety of stiff materials to make them more effective in absorbing radiation. The stiff material is called a filler and the polymer is referred to as a matrix. Polymer-matrix composites have a wide range of applications in many fields.
For example, a conducting PAn grafted nylon fabric affords a significant radiation shielding efficiency (SE) up to 1000 KHz, even if subjected to acidic fumes and high humidity levels. Additionally, a silicone rubber matrix dispersed with 37.5% tungsten oxide (WO3) and bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) showed good gamma-ray shielding performance, which is superior to that of lead (Atashi et al., 2018). Similarly, micro- and nanosized WO3 dispersed in isophthalic resin and emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC) polymer composites also have good radiation shielding abilities (Plionis et al., 2009).