ACCELERATOR-BASED TESTS OF RADIATION SHIELDING PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS USED IN HUMAN SPACE INFRASTRUCTURES

Construction materials used in the nuclear industry used to be mainly heavy materials, including lead plates, radiation-resistant heavy concrete, etc. However, these materials are either toxic after a long time of use (lead) or difficult to construct (radiation-resistant heavy concrete) and their cost is rather high. Therefore, there is a need for the manufacturing of a new kind of material with good radiation resistance, which is light, easy to use, and costs less. Barium is less toxic and more cost-effective than lead. Due to the importance of barium compounds in radiation shielding, the study of gamma radiation interactions within these compounds becomes essential, so the most important part of such a study is the experimental one, which shows the effect of the barite powder in the radiation resistance of the mortar. The research results show that the higher the thickness and percentage of barite powder, the higher is the radiation resistance.

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Influence of heavy metal oxides to the mechanical and radiation shielding properties of borate and silica glass system

Journal of Materials Research and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.01.117 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 1322-1330

Author(s):

M.H.M. Zaid ◽

H.A.A. Sidek ◽

K.A. Matori ◽

A. Abdu ◽

K.A. Mahmoud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Metal Oxides ◽

Silica Glass ◽

Radiation Shielding ◽

Glass System ◽

Shielding Properties ◽

Heavy Metal Oxides

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Double-layered fiber for lightweight flexible clothing providing shielding from low-dose natural radiation

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83272-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Seon-Chil Kim ◽

Jun Sik Son

Keyword(s):

Low Dose ◽

Layered Composite ◽

Radiation Shielding ◽

Flight Attendants ◽

Low Dose Radiation ◽

Natural Radiation ◽

Composite Yarn ◽

Materials Used ◽

Fiber Fabric ◽

Dose Radiation

AbstractNatural and medical radiation are the most frequent sources of daily low-dose radiation exposure for the general public, but these radiation levels are generally acceptable. Among various occupations, aviation crew members and medical workers are exposed to high levels of radiation from scattered rays. This study focused on developing clothing for shielding aviation crew members from natural radiation during air travel. Materials were selected considering their radiation-shielding properties. A tungsten double-layered composite yarn and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber fabric containing BaSO4 were manufactured. The characteristics and shielding performances of the products were analyzed. Prototypes of a protective scarf (for shielding the thyroid gland) and apron (for shielding the torso) for flight attendants were produced. A lightweight fabric was produced that neither restricts the movement of the wearer nor causes them skin discomfort. The shielding performances of the tungsten composite and PET fiber fabrics containing BaSO4 were 0.018 mmPb and 0.03 mmPb, respectively, demonstrating low-dose shielding that may be useful for protecting aviation crew members from scattered rays. The characteristics of the developed fibers are comparable to those of materials used in clothing production; therefore, low-dose radiation-shielding clothing could be manufactured for use in aviation, medical, and other industries.

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