Experimental investigation of contaminated clay slabs for x-ray shielding
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Date
2022
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Publisher
IOP, journal of earth and environmental science
Abstract
The advent of radiation is a challenge to the human race therefore; a suitable material is
a solution to effective radiation shielding. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of
clay slabs mixed with some heavy metals in radiation shielding. Thereafter, absorption coefficients
(mass and linear) were calculated from both incident and transmitted intensity measured with a
detector at different energies: 40 keV, 60 keV, 80 keV, 100 keV,120 keV, 150 KeV and 200 Kev.
The following procedures were taken: the clay was mixed with heavy metals (Lead, Nickel
Cadmium, Zinc and Copper) using the ion exchange capacity technique and then slabs were
moulded using a wooden frame of dimensions 4 cm x 4 cm x 1 cm. A narrow collimated beam
transmission geometry condition was used for the measurements. The measured values of these
parameters were in good agreement with the literature. At selected energies, the values of linear
and mass attenuation for lead were 2.29 cm-1 and 0.466 gcm-2, 1.58 cm-1 and 0.392 gcm-2, 1.23 cm-
1 and 0.281 gcm-2, 1.09 cm-1 and 0.216 gcm-2, 0.88 cm-1 and 0.180 gcm-2, 0.74 cm-1 and 0.168
gcm-2 and 0.57 cm-1 and 0.161 gcm-2, respectively. The results obtained were compared with
concrete. The clay slabs mixed with heavy metal showed good shielding properties for moderate
radiation energy. Hence, these slabs are feasible and cost effective compared with traditional
concrete used for construction.