The effect of tincal-added cement on the attenuation of gamma rays and neutrons
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The increasing use of ionizing radiation in nuclear energy, medical diagnostics, radiotherapy, and industrial applications necessitates the development of effective and sustainable radiation shielding materials. In this study, the gamma-ray and fast neutron attenuation properties of cement-based composites incorporating anhydrous tincal obtained from the Balıkesir–Bigadiç region were experimentally investigated. Tincal was dehydrated at 650 °C to remove crystal water and added to Portland cement at ratios of 1%, 5%, and 10% by weight. The research includes gamma and neutron attenuation experiments, compressive strength tests, SEM, and XRD analyses under different parameters. Based on the evaluation of the obtained results, it was concluded that tincal has no effect on gamma attenuation. In contrast, neutron attenuation performance improved significantly with increasing tincal content. However, compressive strength values decreased significantly in tincal-added samples, which presents limitations for structural applications. It is thought that it cannot be used as a load-bearing element in construction, but rather as a cladding material. When considered overall, the effectiveness of the material in terms of neutron attenuation suggests potential applications in the fields of nuclear safety, radiation protection and construction materials. It is predicted that radiation-attenuating composites developed with natural minerals could contribute to the widespread adoption of environmentally friendly material technologies aimed at minimizing toxic waste production.
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