Gamma-ray shielding characteristics of concrete containing different percentage of ceramics for different energies

To shield people from dangerous gamma radiation, it is imperative to fabricate inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials. In the present work, suitability of concrete with various % concentrations of ceramics as gamma-ray shielding material has been studied. In this regard, concrete mixture using M-sand and cement with ceramic as filler in different concentrations has been prepared. The mass attenuation coefficients of the prepared samples were measured for different concentrations of ceramics such as 15, 30, 45 and 60%. The mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer (HVL) and tenth vale layer (TVL) of the prepared samples were determined using gamma-ray spectrometer with NaI(Tl) detector at 511, 661.6, 1173, 1332 keV gamma energies. Experimentally obtained mass attenuation coefficients varied from 0.080 to 0.090, 0.074 to 0.086, 0.056 to 0.072 and 0.054 to 0.055 cm2 g-1 at 511, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV, respectively. Therefore concrete mixture with ceramics filler could be a promising shielding material than the bare concrete.