Development of New Materials for Neutron Radiation Protection

Caruncho-Rodado, J.M. (1); Fuentes-Vzquez, V.(1); Calvo, A. (1); Gmez-Rodrguez, F. (2); Gonzlez-Soto, X. (2); Gonzlez-Castao, D.M. (2); Dacua, B. (3); Lorente, A. (4); Gallego, E. (4)
(1)

Arraela, S.L., Polgono Vilar do Colo, 15621, Cabanas, A Corua, Spain

(2)

Grupo de Investigacin en Radiofsica, Departamento de Fsica de Partculas, Facultade de Fsica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
(3)

RIAIDT, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain

(4)

Departamento de Ingeniera Nuclear, Escuela Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politcnica de Madrid, Spain

Abstract The Arraela S.L. company has developed two new materials to be used as shielding against neutron radiation: CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1. Physicochemical test were performed on them, as well as a theoretical study of attenuation and backscattering of neutron beams of different energies using the Monte Carlo simulation technique (MC). CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1 combine different materials that allow for both fast neutrons brake and thermal neutron capture. On the one hand, both contain a high amount of hydrogen (effective neutron moderator) in their structure: the former, above 2 percent (weight) in the form of crystallized water, and the second about 7 percent (weight). On the other hand, the mineral with which both are manufactured contains high levels of boron, which has a great capacity for absorption of thermal neutrons. Keywords: neutron, radiological protection, hydrogen, boron.

1. Introduction The Arraela S.L. company has developed two new products to be used as shielding against neutron radiation, under the brand names CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1. The purpose of this study was to analyze and characterize the behavior of both materials against neutron radiation beams. Physicochemical tests were carried out in the RIAIDT of University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Simulations using the Monte Carlo method (MC) were carried out by Grupo de Investigacin en Radiofsica at USC. The neutron attenuation results obtained for the two products, CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1, have been compared with other materials commonly used to slow neutron radiation, such as conventional concrete, to determine the efficiency gains.

2. Materials and methods CONTEKRNH1 is a concrete product whose main mineral compound has high boron contents, resulting in considerable neutron absorption [1]. In addition, this material contains high crystallized water contents, which means it has a large fraction of H, a key element in stopping and thermalizing fast neutrons [1]. The chemical composition of the product can be seen in Table 1: Element H B C O Na Al S Si Ca % Weight 2.3 12.7 0.3 60.3 0.4 0.4 0.2 3.0 20.3

Table 1. Chemical analysis of CONTEK RNH1 obtained by experimental measurements made at RIAIDT (USC).

CONTEKRNB1, like CONTEKRNH1, is a material whose main mineral compound has high in boron. As mentioned above, the high content of this element means the material has a high

neutron absorption capacity. This material has in its structure, and as a binder, a high amount of hydrocarbons, resulting in a high content of H, a key element in stopping and thermalizing fast neutrons. The elemental analysis of this material is shown in Table 2:

Element H B O S Ca

% Weight 2.4 15.4 61.9 0.6 19.7

Table 2. Chemical analysis of CONTEK RNB1.

MCNPX 2.6.0 calculations were performed to measure the attenuation offered by the two types of bricks of different thicknesses. It became a model for an 241Am-Be source and a typical radiotherapy treatment room, a bunker with a simple maze. The geometry and the atomic composition of the tested materials were reproduced. The attenuation properties of the two materials were simulated both for an 241Am-Be source and for thermal neutrons, those arriving at the entrance of the maze [2, 3].

Figure 1 shows a comparison between the neutron spectrum of a 18 MeV LINAC and that of an 241Am-Be source:

Fig. 1. Comparison of neutron spectra of a clinical 18MeV LINAC

[2, 3] and a 241Am-Be source [4].

The attenuation properties of the two materials against photon radiation from a LINAC of different energies were also studied. 3. Results Figure 2 shows the Monte Carlo calculation of ambient dose H * (10) produced by the spectrum of neutrons from an
241

Am-Be source depending on the thickness of the materials

analyzed, CONTEKRNB1 and CONTEKRNH1.

60 H*(10) (pSv cm-2 / Bq) 50 40 30 20 10 0 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Thickness (cm) CONTEK RNH1 CONTEK RNB1

Fig. 2. Attenuation of CONTEKRNH1 depending on material thickness.

The figure shows the exponential behavior of the attenuation. For a thickness of 5 cm, the environmental dose was reduced by 50 percent for both materials. Figure 3 shows the Monte Carlo theoretical calculations of neutron flux at the isocenter standard bare concrete and the same standard concrete covered with 5 cm of CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1. It can be observed how the materials used in this study totally absorb neutron radiation in the area of thermal neutrons, which means that the walls covered with the above-mentioned materials prevent backscattering within this energy range from happening.

Fig. 3. Neutrons flux at isocenter.

Figure 4 shows neutron flux at the entrance of the maze with standard concrete and 5 cm CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1. It can be seen how the materials studied fully absorb neutron radiation in the area of thermal neutrons.

Fig. 4. Neutrons flux at the entrance of the maze door.

Table 3 shows the half-value layer (HVL) and the tenth-value layer (TVL) values of both materials calculated for an 241Am-Be source with MCNP: Am-Be SOURCE THERMAL NEUTRONS CONTEK RNH1 CONTEK RNB1 CONTEKRNH1 CONTEKRNB1 4.32 4.78 0.26 0.26 14.36 15.87 0.86 0.86 28.71 31.74 1.71 1.72
241

LAYER (cm) HVL st 1 TVL 2nd TVL

Table 4 shows the half-value layer and the tenth-value layers values of both materials calculated with MCNP for LINAC photons at different energies: LINAC 6 MV CONTEK CONTEK RNH1 8.28 27.50 55 RNB1 9.40 31.23 62.46 LINAC 15 MV CONTEK CONTEK RNH1 11.71 38.90 77.80 RNB1 13.30 44.18 88.36 LINAC 18 MV CONTEK CONTEK RNH1 11.36 37.72 75.44 RNB1 13.21 43.88 87.78

LAYER (cm) CHR 1 stCDR 2 ndCDR

In fact, the composition of CONTEKRNB1 has improved. The new material composition is shown in the table below: Elemento C H N B % Peso 46.27 6.90 0.33 14.17

Table 5. Chemical analysis of improved CONTEK RNB1.

MCNP and experimental measurements of this modified material are currently underway.

4. Conclusions The neutron yield data calculated using the MCNP method showed that both CONTEKRNH1 and CONTEKRNB1 are fully capable of attenuating the neutron radiation in the range of thermal neutrons. This phenomenon has several important consequences. First, it prevents backscatter radiation from reaching the patient in cancer treatment room. The amount of radiation reaching patients skin is virtually negligible. This reduces the radiation dose received by the patient unnecessarily.

Second, the disappearance of thermal neutrons in the treatment room greatly increases the lifetime of the electronic devices inside the room. This is so because thermal neutrons affect the performance of this type of devices. Third, the shielding of the door is dramatically reduced. The materials studied also have photon attenuation properties similar to standard concrete (TVL (6 MV) = 32.6 cm; TVL (18 MV) = 42.3 cm - DIN 6847, 1977) at the energies studied [5]. The increase in the hydrogen fraction in the improved version of CONTEK RNB1 likely to result in a significant increase in the absorption of fast neutrons. 5. Acknowledgements We wish to thank Centro de Investigacin at PROAS-CEPSA for they supplied some of the materials used in our study and provided data about their composition.

6. References [1] Podgorsak, E.B. (ed.) (2005), Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency. [2] Tosi, G.; Torresin, A.; Agosteo, S.; Folgio Para, A.; Sangiust, V.; Zeni, L.; Silari, M. Neutron measurements around medical electrn accelerators by active and passive detection techniques, Med. Phys., 18(1): 54-60 (1991). [3] Facure, A.; Falcao, R.C.; Silva, A.X.; Crispim, V.R.; Vitorelli, J.C. A study of neutron spectra from medical linear accelerators. Appl. Rad. Isot., 62: 69-72 (2005). [4] International Standard ISO 8529 (2001). Reference neutron radiations Part 1: Characteristics and methods of production. International Standard ISO 8529-1. [5] DIN, Medical Electron accelerators, Part2: Radiation Protection rules for installation. DIN 6847, Deutsches Institut fr Normung (1977).