TY - JOUR JF - Int-J-Radiat-Res JO - Int J Radiat Res VL - 12 IS - 3 PY - 2014 Y1 - 2014/7/01 TI - Production of a novel high strength heavy concrete using tourmaline and galena for neutron and photon radiation shielding TT - N2 - Background: High density concrete is extensively used for efficient radiation attenuation in radiotherapy rooms and nuclear reactors. Over the past eight years, some efficient galena-based concrete samples for shielding X or gamma rays was produced. The goal of this study was to produce a novel high density concrete against neutron and photon radiations using tourmaline and galena. Materials and Methods: Attenuation of gamma photons was measured using a Farmer type ionization chamber with a standard 60Co buildup cap on a Theratron 60Co therapy unit. Neutron shielding characteristics were measured by using an Am-Be source. The MCNP4C radiation transport computer code was used to investigate the effects of various shield thicknesses on the attenuation of gamma-ray photons and neutrons. Results: The concrete samples had a density of 4.0- 4.2 g/cm3. The compressive strength was 326 - 560 kg/cm2. The calculated value for Half Value Layer (HVL) of the tourmaline-galena concrete samples for 60Co gamma rays was 2.72 cm, which is much less than that of ordinary concrete (6.0 cm). The MC-derived HVL for photons with the same energy was 2.77 cm, which is in a good agreement with the experimental data. Moreover, ToGa concrete had up to 10 times greater neutron attenuation compared to that of the reference concrete. Conclusion: Tourmalin-Galena Concrete opens a new horizon in economic and efficient gamma/neutron shielding in high-energy radiotherapy bunkers, nuclear power plants, and shielding of radioactive sources. SP - 277 EP - 282 AU - Aghamiri, S.M.R. AU - Mortazavi, S.M.J. AU - Mosleh Shirazi, M.A. AU - Baradaran-Ghahfarokhi, M. AU - Rahmani, F. AU - Amiri, A. AU - Jarideh, S. AD - Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran KW - Heavy concrete KW - boron rich mineral KW - radiation shielding KW - Monte Carlo simulation UR - http://ijrr.com/article-1-1287-en.html ER -