Identifying the Issue
- Lead (Pb) based radiation shields have been available, however Pb’s exposure hazard raised concerns due to its toxicity.
- Therefore, effective and environmental-friendly radiation shielding materials are essential to minimize radiation exposure and prevent the harmful effects of ionizing.
Objective of the Research
- Develop eco-friendly, cost-effective radiation shielding materials using rice husk ash-derived glasses, ensuring improved safety and reduced environmental impact
Who should read this?
- Professionals focusing on glass science, radiation shielding materials, and eco-friendly material development.
- Those interested in waste utilization and the development of sustainable materials, especially through the use of agro-waste like rice husk ash (RHA)
Solution
- Development of lead-free materials as sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional lead based radiation shielding materials
Key Features and Benefits
- Utilizes rice husk ash (RHA), an agro-waste material, as a silica source, promoting waste recycling and reducing environmental impact.
- Exhibits high mass attenuation coefficients, low half-value layers, and significant radiation protection efficiency (RPE), and outperforming lead-based glasses
- Provides an effective, non-toxic alternative to conventional lead-based materials, ensuring safer handling, usage, and disposal
Impact
- BBS glasses demonstrate 23.9% Radiation Protection Efficiency (RPE), outperforming commercial lead-based silicate glasses (14.9%) and ensuring safer environments in radiation-exposed industries.
- By replacing lead with lead-free, eco-friendly glasses, the industry eliminates the risks of lead contamination, improving safety standards for approximately 90% of applications requiring radiation shielding materials.
- Large-scale adoption of BBS glasses could potentially mitigate hundreds of tons of lead waste annually, improving public health and aligning with international regulations like RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances).
Team
Sahil Pradhan , Upesh Kumar Appikonda , and Paramesh Gadige *
Title of paper: “Evaluation of radiation shielding characteristics of transparent barium bismuth borosilicate glasses derived from rice husk ash“
Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.177950
