Process for making Red Mud based Synthetic Aggregates & Radiation Shielding Concrete

CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal has developed a Process for making Gamma Ray Radiation Shielding Aggregates, utilizing industrial waste i.e., Red Mud. The developed Synthetic Shielding Aggregates were used to make advanced radiation shielding concrete which superior radiation attenuation properties when compared with that of conventional Hematite Ore based radiation shielding concrete.

• The developed aggregates were tested for engineering properties and are found capable to replace conventionally used hematite ore aggregate for making heavy density radiation shielding concrete.
• Specific Gravity of developed Red Mud based Synthetic Aggregates : 4.16
• The developed concrete possesses compressive strength of M-30 & having density 3586 Kg/m³
• The developed Synthetic Aggregate based concrete achieved attenuation factor of 5.8 as compared to 5.1 attenuation factor for conventional hematite ore-based concrete for high energy Gamma ray radiation source i.e. ¹³⁷Cs .

Developed Advanced Radiation Shielding concrete having Gamma ray shielding properties have application for:

• Nuclear Power Plants
• Bunkers for Strategic Sector
• Medical diagnostic installations

• Developed Radiation Shielding Concrete is Non-toxic lead free & Hematite ore free
• Bulk utilization of Aluminium Industrial waste namely Red Mud
• The use of waste will save the Non –replenishable resources such as Hematite Ore aggregates and thus a waste will be converted in to a highly value added shielding materials.
• The developed Synthetic Aggregate based concrete achieved around 11% better attenuation factor as compared to conventional hematite ore based concrete for high energy Gamma radiation source i.e. ¹³⁷