New Radiation-Protective Binder for Special-Purpose Composites

The present work is devoted to the examination of new radiation-protective binder for special-purpose composite materials. The mixture for such advanced binder is developed. The mixture includes portland cement together with special component – barium hydrosilicates. The latter are micro-sized mineral admixtures which are synthesized by means of low-temperature sol-gel process. The parameters of early structure forming process (including normal density and setting time) are studied. Mechanical properties of the developed binders are determined. It has been shown that admixture of barium hydrosilicates leads to an increase of normal density. Both low and high setting times are reducing for composite binder with barium hydrosilicates. Values of compressive strength are significantly higher (up to 75%) if compared with traditional binder for radiation-protective building materials. It is also revealed during examination of protective properties that for X-ray photons with energy Eγ = 0.1 MeV linear coefficient of attenuation increases by 80%.