High-density concrete: Exploring Ferro boron effects in neutron and gamma radiation shielding

•Concretes mixed with 25%, 50%, and 75% Ferro boron as partial granite aggregate replacement are studied.•Compressive strength increases with Ferro boron but only up to 50% replacement.•Neutron and gamma transmission decrease with Ferro boron increment.•Workability and density reduce and enhance, re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Construction & building materials 2019-08, Vol.215, p.718-725
Main Authors: Roslan, Muhammad Khairi Azri, Ismail, Mohammad, Kueh, Ahmad Beng Hong, Zin, Muhammad Rawi Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ferro boron
Gamma radiation
Gamma shielding
High-density concrete
Neutron radiation
Neutron shielding
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Summary:•Concretes mixed with 25%, 50%, and 75% Ferro boron as partial granite aggregate replacement are studied.•Compressive strength increases with Ferro boron but only up to 50% replacement.•Neutron and gamma transmission decrease with Ferro boron increment.•Workability and density reduce and enhance, respectively, with Ferro boron increment. Aimed to reduce neutron and gamma radiation, this study examined the shielding capability of high-density concretes mixed with Ferro boron in different proportions (25%, 50%, and 75%) replacing granite aggregate, denoted as 25FB, 50FB, and 75FB, respectively, with control specimen designated as CC. The concretes performance was evaluated in terms of mechanical and radiation shielding properties. Cement content, water-cement ratio, and maximum nominal size of aggregates were kept as constant. In general, workability and density reduced and enhanced, respectively, with Ferro boron increment. The increment in concrete strength was achieved with 25FB and 50FB, while 75FB mix experienced a strength reduction due to the segregation problem. Ferro boron concrete showed better radiation shielding, where 25FB, 50FB, and 75FB shielded transmission of neutron and gamma 2, 2.57, and 3.27 times as well as 1.35, 1.72, and 2.92 times, respectively, better than CC. Hence, these findings conclusively show that the increase in the Ferro boron content has progressively increased the shielding properties of the concrete, with notable caution against high inclusion of Ferro boron due to a counter-productive outcome in strength.
ISSN:0950-0618
1879-0526
DOI:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.105