Investigating the Radiation Shielding Properties of Iron Oxide-enhanced Heavy Concrete through Gamma Transmission Method

This study investigates the radiation shielding properties of construction materials, with a focus on iron oxide (Fe2O3)-enhanced heavy concrete. It covers a range of Fe2O3 concentrations from 0% to 12.9% in concrete formulations and uses M200-grade standard samples as references. The study observes a linear increase in sample density as Fe2O3 content rises. A gamma transmission measurement system utilizing NaI(Tl) detectors assesses shielding effectiveness. It measures linear attenuation coefficients for concrete samples at 59.54 keV (241Am), 661.7 keV (137Cs), and 1332 keV (60Co) energy levels. Precise measurements result from careful calibration of detectors and radiation sources, ensuring a focused gamma ray beam. The findings establish a direct correlation between linear attenuation coefficients and Fe2O3 content at each energy level. Notably, samples with the highest Fe2O3 concentration exhibit significant increases in attenuation coefficients, such as 19.6% (59.54 keV), 7.75% (661.7 keV), and 13.5% (1332 keV), compared to standard samples. These insights suggest the potential use of iron oxide-enhanced heavy concrete as effective radiation shielding in construction applications.