Bremsstrahlung shielding parameters in polymer concretes

Concretes are used for shielding in nuclear power plants. Beta radiation is emitted during the nuclear reactions. This beta radiation interacts with the concrete and results in secondary radiation such as bremsstrahlung. Shielding parameters of beta-induced bremsstrahlung in concretes are important in the field of radiation protection. We have evaluated the cross section, yield, intensity and dose rate of beta-induced bremsstrahlung by pure beta nuclides of end point energy ranges from 0.4 to 5?MeV in some polymer-based concretes such as sulfur polymer concrete, barium polymer concrete, calcium polymer concrete, fluorine polymer concrete, chlorine polymer concrete and germanium polymer concrete. We have compared the shielding properties among the studied polymer concretes. The efficiency, intensity and dose rate of bremsstrahlung increases with a maximum energy of beta nuclide and modified atomic number of the concrete. From the detailed study, it is clear that the barium polymer concrete is having large bremsstrahlung dose rate and specific bremsstrahlung constant values than the other studied polymer concretes. This means barium polymer concrete is a good absorber of bremsstrahlung radiation than the other studied polymer concretes.