Study on the effect of the addition of synthesized nano scale lead oxide for concrete samples used in Gamma-ray shielding

Abstract EN

Our goal in this research is to investigate the effect of concrete incorporated with nanoparticles of lead oxide in powder form by different percentages on Gamma-ray shielding characteristics.

The lead oxide nanostructure was synthesized through the reaction of citric acid (C6H7O8.H2O) solution and lead acetate (Pb (C2H3O2)) solution as stabilizer and precursor, respectively.

In this synthesis, the prepared lead oxide nanostructure was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques.

The prepared PbO consists of the crystallites about 50 nm.

The concrete samples were prepared according to the local standards of building materials and doped with PbO nano powders by different percentages, 0%, 5%and 10% (by weight) by replacing cement and keeping constant w/c ratio.

Moreover, commercial PbO bulk powder additive was used to check the effect of particle size on concrete attenuation properties.

The γrays attenuation coefficients were measured as a function of the additive percentage of nanoparticles of lead oxides and using γray point source,126Ra with different energies in the range (0.295- 1.73) MeV.

The results were compared with that for normal concrete incorporated with the same percentage of bulk lead oxide.

It was found that the γ-ray attenuation coefficient for concrete doped with nanoparticles of PbO was slightly improved.