Studying Gamma-Ray Attenuation Parameters for Epoxy/Ilmenite Restoration Mortar

Abstract

This paper demonstrates on evaluation of mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number and electronic density for Epoxy/Ilmenite EP/Il (ρ = 2.51 gm / cm3) composite of radiation shielding potential required for radiological safety. Narrow beam gamma-ray transmission geometry was used for the experimental evaluation of mass attenuation coefficient (cm2•g-1). The source term was the radioactive sources Cs-137 and Co-60; the detection term was the NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The obtained linear attenuation coefficients from the experimental results were divided by their associated density values to get (μ/ρ) for the composite. In addition; WinXcom program, as well as, MCNP5 code were used to calculate those parameters theoretically for reasons of comparison and confirmation. The parameters, effective atomic number Zeff and electronic density Nel were experimentally evaluated and theoretically calculated using the first computational tool. In general, good agreement has been observed between experimental and theoretical methods within uncertainties.