Shielding effect of boron carbide-tungsten carbide-aluminum metal matrix hybrid composite against different type of radiations
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Date
2024-11-12
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Abstract
The present study examined the shielding effect of composite materials containing varying proportions of aluminum, boron carbide and tungsten carbide compounds against different radiation types. The transmission technique was used to investigate the attenuation properties of the materials against gamma, beta and neutron radiation. The linear and mass attenuation coefficients of the samples were determined by 0.059 MeV (Am-241), 0.662 MeV (Cs-137) and 1.25 MeV (Co-60) energetic gamma rays and Emax = 2.25 MeV energetic beta rays. Furthermore, the total macroscopic cross section (T) was calculated for the materials in the presence of the Pu-Be neutron source. The gamma mass attenuation coefficient values were compared with theoretical values obtained from the XCOM programme code. Calculations of the half-value thickness (HVT) were conducted utilising linear attenuation coefficient and total macroscopic cross-section values. The results demonstrated that an increase in the tungsten carbide content of the materials resulted in an enhancement of the HVTs against gamma and beta radiation from Am-241, Cs-137 and Co-60. Furthermore, an increase in the boron carbide ratio resulted in an enhancement of the HVTs against the Pu-Be neutron source. The findings of this study may prove useful in the selection of effective shielding materials against mixed radiation in nuclear industries.
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Shielding, tungsten carbide, boron carbide, gamma attenuation, neutron attenuation, beta attenuation.