Gamma-ray absorbing characteristic of obsidian rocks as a potential material for radiation protection

Duran S., KÜÇÜKÖMEROĞLU B., Ciris A., ERSOY H.

RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, cilt.199, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 199
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110309
  • Dergi Adı: RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, EMBASE, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Mass absorption coefficient, Ikizdere obsidian, Natural radioactivity, Effective dose, Half-value thickness, Radiation shielding, PHOTON ATTENUATION COEFFICIENTS, NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY, BUILDING-MATERIALS, SHIELDING PROPERTIES, FEATURES, REGION
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this study, natural radionuclide levels and mass absorption coefficients of obsidian samples were examined to determine their gamma radiation properties. Fourteen obsidian samples were collected from 7 different locations in Rize province, Ikizdere region, Turkey. X-ray fluorescence measurements of the samples revealed the silica structure and comparable elemental structure with slight differences in atomic ratios. Radionuclide analysis showed that the Cs-137 activity was below the detection limit, and the mean activities of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were 93 +/- 9, 67 +/- 7, 1027 +/- 19 Bq.kg(-1), respectively. The average experimental mass absorption coefficients at 81.0 keV, 302.9 keV, 356.0 keV and 661.7 keV were found to be 0.216, 0.108, 0.098 and 0.080 cm(2) g(-1), respectively. In the <100 keV region which the photoelectric effect is dominant, differences among the absorption coefficients were more pronounced, while it was relatively much smaller in the intermediate energy region. Also, it was seen that the absorption coefficients of the samples were higher than many materials, especially in the low energy region. The average half-value thicknesses showed that obsidian between 1.43 cm and 3.84 cm depending on the photon energy should be used to halve the radiation intensity. In addition, it was determined that the thicknesses in the range of 4.75 cm-12.76 cm were sufficient to reduce the intensity to one tenth. Considering all the analysis results, it can be said that obsidian is a potential material in radiation protection and its absorption properties can be improved by processes such as elemental doping.