Radiation-resistant materials based on mica in the construction industry

Irkutsk National Research Technical University, 664074, Lermontova str., 83, Irkutsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: tamara.shishelova@gmail.com

Abstract

Burial of radioactive waste is an urgent contemporary problem. The development of materials for the disposal of radioactive waste is also topical. In this paper, we consider the possibility of using mica to solve these problems. Mica has been known for a long time and studied by researchers from almost all countries of the world. The areas of its use are constantly expanding and renewing. Mica has high electrical insulation properties. Because of this, the field of application of mica was the electrotechnical industry for a long time. Currently, the range of using mica is quite wide. In this paper, attention is paid to the relatively promising areas of its use. The possibility of using composite materials based on mica as materials for protection against radioactive emissions and disposal of radioactive waste is considered. The object of the study: samples of a composite material based on mica, or the mikalexs. The method of recording ionizing radiation and the mass spectroscopic method were used to study linear coefficients of μ attenuation from gamma radiation of mikalexes on the basis of various micas after bombardment with 5 MeV, 10 MeV, 25 MeV electron beams. We used: a cesium source of γ-radiation with E = 0.661 MeV and a cobalt source with E = 1.25 MeV. Research results on the μ linear attenuation coefficients on γ-radiation of mikalexes based on various micas after their bombardment with electron fluxes showed that electron bombardment increases the penetrating power of gamma radiation in the mikalex. The dependence of the coefficient of linear attenuation on the type of mica used was determined. A new field of use of composite materials based on mica (micalex) for radiation protection and the disposal of radiation waste and their use in ultrahigh vacuum.