Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

Iranian Journal of Medical Physics

Radiation Shielding Features of Ordinary and High-Density Concretes Loaded With PbO Micro and Nanoparticles against High-Energy Photons

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors
Khatibeh Verdipoor 1
Asghar Mesbahi 2
1 Medical Radiation Sciences Research Team, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
2 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
10.22038/ijmp.2019.40381.1556
Abstract
Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of PbO nano and micro-sized fillers on ordinary and heavy concretes for different photon energies.
Material and Methods: The MCNPX Monte Carlo code (version 2.6.0) was used for all simulations in the present study. A model of narrow-beam geometry was validated and utilized to calculate the linear attenuation of samples. Three concentrations of PbO, including the weight of 23%, 37.5%, and 50% were simulated. The nano- and microparticle-loaded concretes were simulated using the Lattice and Universe properties of MCNPX code. Finally, the mass attenuation coefficients of studied concretes were analyzed and compared in this study.
Results: Among all the studied concretes, the highest increase of 11% in attenuation coefficient was seen for concretes doped with PbO nanoparticles. The particle size effect was not observed for 18 MeV photon beam, and maximum difference between nano-fillers and micro-fillers was observed for photon energies around 1 MeV.
Conclusion: The difference between nano-fillers and micro-fillers was not significant for heavy concretes in comparison to that for ordinary concrete. It is recommended to apply PbO nanoparticles as effective filler in the ordinary concrete composition for providing higher shielding performance. 
Keywords
Attenuation Coefficient Concrete
Nanoparticle
Radiation
Subjects
  1. Li R, Gu Y, Wang Y, Yang Z, Li M, Zhang Z Effect of particle size on gamma radiation shielding property of gadolinium oxide dispersed epoxy resin matrix composite. Materials Research Express. 2017;4: 35-8.
  2. Mesbahi A, Ghiasi H. Shielding properties of the ordinary concrete loaded with micro- and nano-particles against neutron and gamma radiations. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 2018;136:27-31.
  3. Nambiar S, Yeow JTW. Polymer-composite materials for radiation protection. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2012;4:5717-26.
  4. Noor Azman NZ, Siddiqui SA, Hart R, Low IM. Effect of particle size, filler loadings and x-ray tube voltage on the transmitted x-ray transmission in tungsten oxide-epoxy composites. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 2013;71:62-7.
  5. Tekin HO, Sayyed MI, Altunsoy EE, Manici T. Shielding properties and effects of WO3 and PbO on mass attenuation coefficients by using MCNPX code. Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures. 2017;12:861-7.
  6. Mesbahi A, Ghiasi H, Rabee Mahdavi S. Photoneutron and capture gamma dose calculations for a radiotherapy room made of high density concrete. Nuclear Technology and Radiation Protection. 2011;26:147-52.
  7. Mesbahi A, Alizadeh G, Seyed-Oskoee G, Azarpeyvand AA. A new barite-colemanite concrete with lower neutron production in radiation therapy bunkers. Annals of Nuclear Energy. 2013;51:107-11.
  8. Mesbahi A, Khaldari R. Neutron and photon scattering properties of high density concretes used in radiation therapy facilities: A Monte Carlo study. Polish Journal of Medical Physics and Engineering. 2017;23:61-5.
  9. Khaldari R, Mesbahi A, Kara U. Monte carlo calculation of shielding properties of newly developed heavy concretes for megavoltage photon beam spectra used in radiation therapy. Iranian Journal of Medical Physics. 2016;13:250-60.
  10. Mesbahi A, Khaldari R. Monte Carlo calculation of shielding parameters for fast neutrons in newly developed heavy concretes. Iranian Journal of Medical Physics. 2018;15:214.
  11. Tekin HO, Singh VP, Manici T. Effects of micro-sized and nano-sized WO3 on mass attenauation coefficients of concrete by using MCNPX code. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 2017;121:122-5.
  12. Verdipoor K, Alemi A, Mesbahi A. Photon mass attenuation coefficients of a silicon resin loaded with WO3, PbO, and Bi2O3 Micro and Nano-particles for radiation shielding. Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 2018;147:85-90.
  13. Tekin HO, Sayyed MI, Issa SAM. Gamma radiation shielding properties of the hematite-serpentine concrete blended with WO3 and Bi2O3 micro and nano particles using MCNPX code. Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 2018;150:95-100.
  14. Abo-El-Enein SA, El-Hosiny FI, El-Gamal SMA, Amin MS, Ramadan M. Gamma radiation shielding, fire resistance and physicochemical characteristics of Portland cement pastes modified with synthesized Fe2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles. 2018;173:687-706.
  15. Hassan HE, Badran HM, Aydarous A, Sharshar T. Studying the effect of nano lead compounds additives on the concrete shielding properties for -rays. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B. Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 2015;360:81-9.
Iranian Journal of Medical Physics
Volume 17, Issue 3
May and June 2020
Pages 205-212

  • Receive Date 14 May 2019
  • Revise Date 22 July 2019
  • Accept Date 01 August 2019