Investigating novel material additives for improved radiation shielding in ultra-high performance cement mortars

Abstract In recent years, heavy concrete has been widely used in industry due to the growing application of nuclear technology and the harmful effects of atomic radiation, such as gamma rays, on the environment. The primary component of concrete is cement, which is the critical factor that determines the most important properties of concrete, such as durability, hardness, and structural integrity. This study suggests that metaschist-modified cement (Portland Cement, CEM I 52.5 N) produced using traditional cement manufacturing methods may offer an alternative to ordinary cement clay-mixed cement (Portland Cement CEM I 52.5 N) for radiation protection in nuclear energy applications. This study comprehensively investigated materials such as ordinary cement clay and metaschist, which can be potentially used to protect radioactive substances in cement mortars. Mortars produced using micronized metaschist (MSC) and ordinary cement clay (OCC) were analyzed at different energy levels. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of cement samples was determined experimentally using various radioactive point sources. Additionally, hydraulic and mechanical tests were conducted based on cement standards (TSE EN 196-1, TS EN 196-3, and TS EN 196-6) to evaluate the performance of the produced cement samples. The results indicate that the metaschist-modified Portland cement (MMPC-52,5/N) mixture demonstrates superior radioactive shielding performance compared to ordinary cement clay-mixed cement (Ordinary Portland Cement, CEM I 52.5 N). Cement samples containing MMPC-52,5/N demonstrate superior performance characteristics and high radiation shielding properties, indicating significant potential for applications in nuclear technology.