High rate X-ray radiation shielding ability of cement-based composites incorporating strontium sulfate (SrSO4) minerals

Abstract

Exposure of radioactivity applications should be handled reliably in repositories, radiotherapy rooms, and research centers built with cement-based composites which is generally used as an engineering barrier. The design of certain materials for radioactive exposure requires special handling considering the degradation mechanism of host composite environment and barrier capability. In this study, celestite (SrSO4) minerals having favoring properties for shielding ability was used as aggregates in barrier composites. Strontium mineral-based aggregates were partially replaced with conventional concrete aggregates at different ratios. The high rate X-ray shielding ability and mechanical performance of developed composites were holistically investigated in the presence of real-case radiation. The use of celestite mineral resulted in higher performance both in mechanical and shielding capability of X-rays at a certain level. Microstructural findings also revealed that interface properties of composite paste and celestite minerals were compatible up to 30% of celestite aggregate replacement.