Recent Trends in Advanced Radiation Shielding Concrete for Construction of Facilities: Materials and Properties

Abstract

Nuclear energy offers a wide range of applications, which include power generation, X-ray imaging, and non-destructive tests, in many economic sectors. However, such applications come with the risk of harmful radiation, thereby requiring shielding to prevent harmful effects on the surrounding environment and users. Concrete has long been used as part of structures in nuclear power plants, X-ray imaging rooms, and radioactive storage. The direction of recent research is headed toward concrete’s ability in attenuating harmful energy radiated from nuclear sources through various alterations to its composition. Radiation shielding concrete (RSC) is a composite-based concrete that was developed in the last few years with heavy natural aggregates such as magnetite or barites. RSC is deemed a superior alternative to many types of traditional normal concrete in terms of shielding against the harmful radiation, and being economical and moldable. Given the merits of RSCs, this article presents a comprehensive review on the subject, considering the classifications, alternative materials, design additives, and type of heavy aggregates used. This literature review also provides critical reviews on RSC performance in terms of radiation shielding characteristics, mechanical strength, and durability. In addition, this work extensively reviews the trends of development research toward a broad understanding of the application possibilities of RSC as an advanced concrete product for producing a robust and green concrete composite for the construction of radiation shielding facilities as a better solution for protection from sources of radiation. Furthermore, this critical review provides a view of the progress made on RSCs and proposes avenues for future research on this hotspot research topic.

Mechanical, Durability, and Gamma Ray Shielding Characteristics of Heavyweight Concrete Containing Serpentine Aggregates and Lead Waste Slag

“…Te physical size, the number of orbital electrons, and the efect of the electrostatic feld between charged particles signifcantly increase the possibility of attenuation of photon beams with these heavy elements. Depending on the aggregate used and their density, these types of concrete show diferent behaviors against diferent radiations, which are used according to the type of user's needs and the prevailing conditions of the system [9][10][11]. Aggregates in concrete make up about 60 to 75% of its volume.…”

“…For the design of concrete shielding against gamma rays, the higher the density of concrete, the better the attenuation property. Te use of heavyweight aggregates in concrete increases the density and reduces the thickness required for shielding [10,14].…”

Radiation shielding ability and optical features of La2O3+TiO2+Nb2O5+WO3+X2O3 (X=B, Ga, and In) glass system containing high-entropy oxides

“…This is important in a mixed radiation field or in situations where the interaction of one form of radiation can give birth to another, such as in the radiative capture of neutrons. Therefore, composite materials, including glasses, rocks, and alloys, have been actively researched and recommended for radiation shielding in different radiation application scenarios [ [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] ]. Some of these materials have shown great potential as radiation shields; others have possessed certain qualities that make them preferable in different shielding scenarios.…”

“…Some of these materials have shown great potential as radiation shields; others have possessed certain qualities that make them preferable in different shielding scenarios. For instance, while composite materials such as bulk metallic glasses [ 22 ], marbles, granite [ 28 ], volcanic rocks [ 29 ], alloys [ 32 ], and concrete [ 34 ] have displayed good shielding attributes, their opaqueness has limited their applications in some medical and industrial applications of radiation where optical transparency of shields is advantageous. On the other hand, transparent glasses with good shielding abilities may lack the mechanical strength and temperature tolerance required in shielding materials for space exploration, nuclear power plants, and the construction of structural shields stable against other environmental factors.…”

Deep Insights into the Radiation Shielding Features of Heavy Minerals in Their Native Status: Implications for Their Physical, Mineralogical, Geochemical, and Morphological Properties

“…In recent decades, nuclear physicists, engineers, and geologists have developed many minerals and rock-forming materials to attenuate such radiation. These materials are widely used as aggregates or as additives incorporated into concrete, mortar, glass, and polymers [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Although concrete is the most prevalent material used to mitigate natural disasters [24] and man-made radiation leakages, a recent trend has occurred with respect to the exploitation of such minerals as native materials (in their original state, without their embedding as aggregates or additives in concrete, composites, or polymers), replacing concrete and cement pastes [25].…”