Radiological study of cements and geopolymers

Author(s): Francisca Puertas, Catalina Gasco, Luis Yague, Nuria Navarro, José Antonio Suarez,
Mar Alonso, Manuel Torres, Patricia Rivilla
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the International RILEM Conference
Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering 2016
Segment on Concrete with Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Editor(s): Ole M. Jensen, Konstantin Kovler and Nele De Belie
ISBN:978-2-35158-178-0
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-179-7
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 106-115
Total Pages: 10
Language : English

Abstract: The aim of this study has been to determine the activity concentration of 40K and radionuclides from the 238U and 232Th decay series in commercial cements, some industrial wastes and geopolymers and to calculate their activity concentration levels after the cement hydration/activation at 28 days to ascertain the effect of these processes on their final activity concentrations. The highest activity concentration levels of radionuclides from uranium and thorium series have been obtained in the fly ashes, slags and calcium aluminate cement. When a blend among industrial wastes and cement is realised, the radionuclides activity concentration are calculated on the grounds of their percentages in the blend material and tested by its experimental measurement. Once the hydrated/activated cements and geopolymers have been obtained, a proportional decrease to the percentage of added water is observed in the radionuclides activity concentration for the hydrated cements and no- correlation in the case of 40K in geopolymers pointing to an increase of this isotope in the sodium compounds used for its activation.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00