title: Enhancement of thermal neutron shielding of cement mortar by using borosilicate glass powder.
abstract: Concrete has been used as a traditional biological shielding material. High hydrogen content in concrete also effectively attenuates high-energy fast neutrons. However, concrete does not have strong protection against thermal neutrons because of the lack of boron compound. In this research, boron was added in the form of borosilicate glass powder to increase the neutron shielding property of cement mortar. Borosilicate glass powder was chosen in order to have beneficial pozzolanic activity and to avoid deleterious expansion caused by an alkali-silica reaction. According to the experimental results, borosilicate glass powder with an average particle size of 13µm showed pozzolanic activity. The replacement of borosilicate glass powder with cement caused a slight increase in the 28-day compressive strength. However, the incorporation of borosilicate glass powder resulted in higher thermal neutron shielding capability. Thus, borosilicate glass powder can be used as a good mineral additive for various radiation shielding purposes.
authors.affiliation: Pukyong National University, Nam-gu, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Kil
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Kyungpook National University, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Cheol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Pukyong National University, Nam-gu, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Pukyong National University, Nam-gu, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cwchung@pknu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chul-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009502:Neutrons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001896:Boron Compounds; D011208:Powders; D017640:Silicates
keywords: Borosilicate glass powder; Compressive strength; Neutron shielding; Pozzolanic reaction