Re-use of waste components of accumulators (accu) as x-ray radiation protection

Abstract

Radiation protection is the means for protecting radiation workers and the general public from the harmful effects of radioactive substances and/or other radiation sources. The principle of radiation protection is to reduce the radiation intensity, one of which can be done by using a radiation absorbing materials. Lead is a material that effectively absorbs radiation due to its high atomic number and density. A research has been conducted by using lead components of waste accumulators dopped with yukalac C108B. Samples were made with variations in lead concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% and with variations in thickness of 0.5 cm; 1 cm; 1.5 cm; 2 cm; 2.5 cm, 3 cm. Tests were carried out by exposing samples to X-ray and measure its absorbtion dose rate using a surveymeter. The increase in lead concentration and thickness causes an increase in the X-ray absorption dose rate. In addition, it also shows an increase in logarithm of light intensity that enters the film against the intensity of light transmitted through the film as the alternative to optical density, and a decrease in X-Ray Transmittance which is the X-ray-to-sample transmission value. The results obtained show, the attenuation coefficient value with variation in lead concentration and average thickness were 0.11328048 cm-1; 0.15691327 cm-1; 0.1831095 cm -1; and 0.21584088 cm -1. The lead components from waste accumulators can be used as an alternative for the manufacture of radiation absorbing materials with consideration of its ability to absorbs radiation.