Characteristics, as a shield against ionizing photons, of concrete blocks used in the construction industry. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hernandez-Murillo, Christian Geovanni; Escalera-Velasco, Luis Alberto; de Leon-Martínez, Hector Asael; Vega-Carrillo, Hector Rene; Molina Contreras, J. Rafael; Moreira del Rio, Dania Estefania; Jauregui Acevedo, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 187(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Concrete blocks -- EBF -- EABF -- Dosimetry -- PSD; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: INEGI reports that 81% of new constructions are built with durable materials, such as concrete blocks, including rooms where ionizing radiation is used, such as clinics and hospitals. The volume ratios used in the manufacture of concrete blocks have a 1: 5: 2 ratio of: portland cement, sand and crushed gravel. The percentage mass content of each atom in the sample is obtained with the energy-dispersed X-ray fluorescence, these results are used to calculate the characteristics such as shielding of the concrete blocks, which have been partially reported, in this work several characteristics are presented for photons from 1 keV to 100 GeV, such as linear attenuation coefficients, the hemireductive layer, the effective, atomic and electronic sections, the effective atomic number (Zef). The exposure of accumulation and energy absorption factors (EBF, EABF) of 0.5–40 mfp are reported, using the Photon Shielding and Dosimetry (PSD) software. These characteristics are compared to those of NBS concrete. The concrete blocks have an attenuation capacity for energies used in radiological equipment such as mammography, 20–35 keV; dental, 50–90 keV and for conventional radiography equipment, 70–150 keV, so the block and lightened concrete block must be considered in the calculations of primary and secondary shielding walls. Highlights: Shielding features of two concrete blocks where determined. Elemental composition was determinate de two concrete blocks. Linear attenuation coefficients, half-value layers, Zeff, EBF and EABF were calculated using PSD software. Shielding features were compared with NBS concrete. The concrete blocks analyzed can be used for shielding of ionizing radiations.