Work

Itararé Group Sandstone as a Sustainable Alternative Material for Photon Radiation Shielding

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The materials typically used for radiation shielding include lead, concrete, and polymers. However, some of these materials can be toxic or very expensive to produce. This raises interest in using more readily available natural materials, such as rocks, as an alternative. In this study, we analyze the radiation shielding efficiency of sandstones. We evaluated different layers of rock and obtained shielding parameters based on the composition of various oxides. The analysis revealed that these layers showed a predominance of silicon and aluminum oxides. Notably, the lowest photon energies (0.015 MeV and 0.1 MeV) displayed significant differences in photon attenuation, as indicated by linear and mass attenuation coefficients. This suggests that the chemical composition of the samples had a considerable impact on their shielding performance. Samples containing higher amounts of heavier elements proved to be more effective at attenuating radiation, efficiently reducing 50% (half-value layer) and 90% (tenth-value layer) of the photons. Additionally, the presence of these heavier elements decreased the production of secondary photons (buildup factor), further enhancing the samples' efficiency in shielding against radiation. Our results indicate that sandstones hold potential for radiation shielding, particularly when they contain higher quantities of heavier elements.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15137559

Authors: Gabrielli Wisniewski Pietralla, Isonel S. Meneguzzo, Luiz F. Pires

Institution: Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa

Language: English

Topic: Radiation Shielding Materials Analysis

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico