Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, cilt.229, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study investigates the effects of doping HfO2 (hafnium oxide) on Al2Si2O5(OH)4–KAlSi3O8–SiO2 ceramics, fabricated via conventional firing and sintering, for photon and neutron shielding applications. Experimental measurements were performed using a133Ba source for gamma shielding and a241Am/Be neutron source for neutron shielding. At 81 keV gamma energy, the radiation attenuation properties of Hf0 (undoped) and Hf5 (doped, containing 30 % HfO2) ceramics showed an increase in the mass attenuation coefficient from 0.180 to 1.812 cm2/g and in the linear attenuation coefficient from 0.417 to 5.799 cm−1, while the mean free path (mfp) decreased from 2.398 to 0.172 cm, indicating a clear compositional dependence. Theoretical calculations were carried out using the EpiXS program. Among the produced ceramics, the Hf5 sample exhibited the highest neutron absorption rate, reaching 59.31 %. This work presents an innovative approach for developing HfO2-doped ceramics for radiation-shielding applications. Compared to undoped systems, the incorporation of HfO2 significantly enhances both gamma- and neutron-attenuation capabilities. The results demonstrate that HfO2-doped ceramics constitute sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient alternatives for radiation protection in nuclear facilities, medical imaging technologies, and space applications.