Innovative Radiation Shielding Techniques Using Alloys and Composites
Advancements in material science are essential for addressing challenges in radiation shielding across various domains, including nuclear energy, medical imaging, aerospace, and industrial safety. By improving materials’ abilities to block harmful radiation while maintaining mechanical integrity, scientists are driving innovations that enhance safety and efficiency in these critical sectors. Asst. Prof. Duygu Şen Baykal from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Nisantasi University, as a member of a team investigating the roles of advanced alloys and composites in shielding against gamma rays and neutrons, continues her work on the unique characteristics and potential applications of these materials.
Advanced Alloys for Radiation Shielding
Advanced alloys play a vital role in modern radiation shielding across nuclear, biomedical, and industrial applications. Alloys incorporating high-Z elements demonstrate excellent gamma-ray and neutron attenuation, making them suitable for shielding and medical imaging purposes. Some alloys are particularly effective in combining shielding efficiency with structural integrity and minimal energy deposition, which is critical for advanced reactor technologies. High entropy alloys (HEAs) stand out for their thermal stability, density, and resistance to radiation, making them ideal for extreme environments such as nuclear reactors and aerospace systems. Additionally, alloys with high density and modulus provide sustainable, lead-free alternatives for radiation protection, while others deliver strong gamma and neutron shielding capabilities for nuclear and medical applications [1,2,3,4,5].
Composites and Hybrid Materials for Shielding
Composite materials provide cost-effective solutions for radiation shielding, utilizing multi-layered structures that effectively block gamma rays and neutrons. The performance of these structures is influenced by the arrangement and composition of the layers. Concrete can be improved with various additives to enhance its shielding efficiency. Certain additives maximize gamma-ray shielding, while others enhance neutron protection and improve the material’s structural properties [6,7].
The continuous development of advanced alloys and hybrid composites underscores the importance of tailored solutions for radiation shielding. By combining computational modeling with empirical studies, researchers create materials that meet the demanding requirements of nuclear, aerospace, and medical industries.
*Notes: This article provides research teasers for each reference to showcase the novelties
References
[1] AlMisned, G., Baykal, D. S., Alkarrani, H., Güler, Ö., Kilic, G., Mesbahi, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). On β-titanium alloys: Tailoring gamma-ray, and neutron transmission properties for nuclear and biomedical applications. Metallurgical Research & Technology, 121(5), 512. https://doi.org/10.1051/metal/2024062
[2] ALMisned, G., Guler, O., Sen Baykal, D., Kilic, G., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Titanium alloys: A closer-look at mechanical, gamma-ray, neutron, and transmission properties of different grade alloys through MCNPcode application. Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 56(9), 3501–3511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2024.03.047
[3] ALMisned, G., Güler, Ö., Özkul, İ., Sen Baykal, D., Alkarrani, H., Kilic, G., Mesbahi, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Exploring thermodynamic, physical and radiative interaction properties of quinary FeNiCoCr high entropy alloys (Heas): A multi-directional characterization study. Physica Scripta, 99(11), 115303. https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad804f
[4] ALMisned, G., Susoy, G., Sen Baykal, D., Alkarrani, H., Güler, Ö., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). A closer-look on W and Pb alloys: In-depth evaluation in elastic modulus, gamma-ray, and neutron attenuation for critical applications. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 420, 113063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.113063
[5] Sen Baykal, D. (2024). A comparative investigation of neutron and gamma radiation interaction properties of zircaloy-2 and zircaloy-4 with consideration of mechanical properties. Open Physics, 22(1), 20240088. https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2024-0088
[6] ALMisned, G., Günoğlu, K., Özkavak, H. V., Sen Baykal, D., Tekin, H. O., Karpuz, N., & Akkurt, I. (2023). An investigation on gamma-ray and neutron attenuation properties of multi-layered Al/B4C composite. Materials Today Communications, 36, 106813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.106813
[7] ALMisned, G., Susoy, G., Sen Baykal, D., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). A comparative investigation on mechanical, gamma-ray and neutron shielding properties of some iron and boron containing concretes samples for nuclear safety applications. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 223, 111987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.111987
Innovative Radiation Shielding Techniques Using Alloys and Composites
Advancements in material science are essential for addressing challenges in radiation shielding across various domains, including nuclear energy, medical imaging, aerospace, and industrial safety. By improving materials’ abilities to block harmful radiation while maintaining mechanical integrity, scientists are driving innovations that enhance safety and efficiency in these critical sectors. Asst. Prof. Duygu Şen Baykal from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Nisantasi University, as a member of a team investigating the roles of advanced alloys and composites in shielding against gamma rays and neutrons, continues her work on the unique characteristics and potential applications of these materials.
Advanced Alloys for Radiation Shielding
Advanced alloys play a vital role in modern radiation shielding across nuclear, biomedical, and industrial applications. Alloys incorporating high-Z elements demonstrate excellent gamma-ray and neutron attenuation, making them suitable for shielding and medical imaging purposes. Some alloys are particularly effective in combining shielding efficiency with structural integrity and minimal energy deposition, which is critical for advanced reactor technologies. High entropy alloys (HEAs) stand out for their thermal stability, density, and resistance to radiation, making them ideal for extreme environments such as nuclear reactors and aerospace systems. Additionally, alloys with high density and modulus provide sustainable, lead-free alternatives for radiation protection, while others deliver strong gamma and neutron shielding capabilities for nuclear and medical applications [1,2,3,4,5].
Composites and Hybrid Materials for Shielding
Composite materials provide cost-effective solutions for radiation shielding, utilizing multi-layered structures that effectively block gamma rays and neutrons. The performance of these structures is influenced by the arrangement and composition of the layers. Concrete can be improved with various additives to enhance its shielding efficiency. Certain additives maximize gamma-ray shielding, while others enhance neutron protection and improve the material’s structural properties [6,7].
The continuous development of advanced alloys and hybrid composites underscores the importance of tailored solutions for radiation shielding. By combining computational modeling with empirical studies, researchers create materials that meet the demanding requirements of nuclear, aerospace, and medical industries.
*Notes: This article provides research teasers for each reference to showcase the novelties
References
[1] AlMisned, G., Baykal, D. S., Alkarrani, H., Güler, Ö., Kilic, G., Mesbahi, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). On β-titanium alloys: Tailoring gamma-ray, and neutron transmission properties for nuclear and biomedical applications. Metallurgical Research & Technology, 121(5), 512. https://doi.org/10.1051/metal/2024062
[2] ALMisned, G., Guler, O., Sen Baykal, D., Kilic, G., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Titanium alloys: A closer-look at mechanical, gamma-ray, neutron, and transmission properties of different grade alloys through MCNPcode application. Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 56(9), 3501–3511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2024.03.047
[3] ALMisned, G., Güler, Ö., Özkul, İ., Sen Baykal, D., Alkarrani, H., Kilic, G., Mesbahi, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Exploring thermodynamic, physical and radiative interaction properties of quinary FeNiCoCr high entropy alloys (Heas): A multi-directional characterization study. Physica Scripta, 99(11), 115303. https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad804f
[4] ALMisned, G., Susoy, G., Sen Baykal, D., Alkarrani, H., Güler, Ö., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). A closer-look on W and Pb alloys: In-depth evaluation in elastic modulus, gamma-ray, and neutron attenuation for critical applications. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 420, 113063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.113063
[5] Sen Baykal, D. (2024). A comparative investigation of neutron and gamma radiation interaction properties of zircaloy-2 and zircaloy-4 with consideration of mechanical properties. Open Physics, 22(1), 20240088. https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2024-0088
[6] ALMisned, G., Günoğlu, K., Özkavak, H. V., Sen Baykal, D., Tekin, H. O., Karpuz, N., & Akkurt, I. (2023). An investigation on gamma-ray and neutron attenuation properties of multi-layered Al/B4C composite. Materials Today Communications, 36, 106813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2023.106813
[7] ALMisned, G., Susoy, G., Sen Baykal, D., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). A comparative investigation on mechanical, gamma-ray and neutron shielding properties of some iron and boron containing concretes samples for nuclear safety applications. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 223, 111987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.111987
