Radiation shielding properties of aluminium alloys
K.V. Sathish, N. Sowmya, R. Munirathnam, H.C. Manjunatha, L. Seenappa, K.N. Sridhar
Abstract
X-ray/gamma, neutron, electromagnetic and Bremsstrahlung shielding parameters were studied for the different aluminium alloys such as Al–Li, Duralumin, Hiduminium, Hydronalium, Italma, Magnalium, Ni–Ti–Al and Y-alloy. X-ray/gamma shielding properties such as mass attenuation coefficient, Half Value layer (HVL), Tenth Value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), electron density (ne), build-up factors (BF), KERMA coefficient (KE), and radiation protection efficiency (RPE) of Al alloys of various compositions were studied. Shielding effectiveness for electromagnetic radiation at different frequency ranges from radio waves to infrared radiations is studied in the above-mentioned aluminium alloys. Further, we investigated neutron scattering lengths and cross sections for the above alloys. Bremsstrahlung shielding parameters such as Bremsstrahlung dose rate, probability of bremsstrahlung and bremstrahlung production efficiency were also studied. Bremsstrahlung's dose rate for the distinct β emitters corresponding to maximum energy are investigated for the different aluminium alloys. Thorough investigations reveal that Ni–Ti–Al aluminium alloy is found to be a good absorber of X-ray/γ radiation, neutron, electromagnetic and Bremsstrahlung radiations. As a consequence, we recommend Ni–Ti–Al as a good radiation shielding material among the aluminium alloys.