An Investigation of Aluminum Titanate-Spinel Composites Behavior in Radiation

Abstract

In the present work, the radiation attenuation properties of Aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5)-Spinel (MgAl2O4) ceramics composites were investigated. Al2TiO5-MgAl2O4 ceramics composites which have different Al2TiO5 percentages (0%, 5% and 10%) were produced and performed against gamma sources. Cs-137 and Co-60 were used as gamma radiation sources. Transmission technique was used in the experiments. The linear and mass attenuation coefficients of the samples were carried out for gamma radiation sources. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical mass attenuation coefficients which were calculated by using XCOM computer code. Increasing Al2TiO5 percentage in the Aluminum titanate/Spinel ceramics composites causes the higher linear and mass attenuation coefficients of the composites against Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma radioisotopes. Therefore Also theoretical mass attenuation coefficients are compatible with the experimental results. In conclusion, increasing the Aluminum titanate ratio in the Al2TiO5-MgAl2O4 ceramics composites increases the gamma shielding property of the Al2TiO5-MgAl2O4 ceramics for nuclear shielding applications.