Impact of polymer, nanomaterial, and rubber modification on the radioactivity and radiation shielding performance of bitumen
-
Serdar Dizman
,
Canan Aksoy
,
Mustafa Taha Aslan
and
Erol İskender
Abstract
Natural radiation levels of bitumen are vital in understanding the potential health risks associated with exposure. The presence of radioactive elements in bitumens can impact environmental and human health. For this reason, in the current study, the natural radiation levels (238U, 232Th and 40K radionuclides) of bitumen samples used in various modified materials were determined. It has been determined that the available samples do not carry any risk to human health in terms of radioactivity. Besides, polymer modified bitumen (PMB) has shown promise as a potential radiation shielding material due to its inherent properties and the flexibility it offers in engineering applications. Therefore, if the modified bitumens are to be used as a shielding material, it is necessary to determine their radiation shielding properties such as linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), half value layer (HVL) and tenth value layer (TVL). In the present study, these values were calculated using 241Am gamma ray source in a radiation absorption experimental setup. It was found that the samples have shown good shielding properties for low-energy gamma radiation.
Annex 1: Typical properties of SBS polymer
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular structure | – | Linear |
| Specific gravity, gr/cm3 | ISO 2781 | 0.94 |
| Bulk density, kg/dm3 | ASTM D 1895 | 0.4 |
| Hardness, shore A (15 s) | ASTM D 2240 | 70 |
| Melt flow rate, 200 °C/5 kg, g/10 min | ISO 1133 | <1 |
| Elongation at break, % | ISO 37 | 1,000 |
| Polystyrene content, % | 28.5–32.5 | |
| Tensile strength, MPa | 33 | |
| Antioxidant content, % | ≥0.16 | |
| Volatile matter, % | ≤0.3 | |
| Triblock content | ≥90 | |
| Vinyl content, % | ≥35 | |
| Tensile strength, MPa | ISO 37 | 33 |
Annex 2: Typical properties of SEBS polymer
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular structure | – | Linear |
| Specific gravity (g/cc) | ASTM D 4025 | 0.910 |
| Melt flow index, g/10 min | ASTM D 1238 | 5 |
| Elongation at break (23 °C), % | ASTM D 412 | 500 |
| Tensile strength (Mpa) | ASTM D 412 | 31 |
| Volatiles, % | ASTM D4025 | ≤0.60 |
| Viscosity, 20 % toluene solution at 25 °C | BAM 922 | 400-525 cP |
| Hardness, shore A | ASTM D 2240 | 69 |
Annex 3: Typical properties of SIS polymer
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular structure | – | Linear |
| Specific gravity(g/cc) | ASTM D 792 | 0.92 |
| Hardness, shore A (10 s) | ASTM D 2240 | 32 |
| Elongation at break,% | ASTM D 412 | 1,300 |
| Styrene/rubber ratio, n/a | 15–85 | |
| Melt index 200 °C/5 kg, g/10 min | ASTM D 1238 | 32,5 |
| Polystyrene content,% | KM 03 | 14–17 |
| Antioxidant content, % | KM 08 | 0.08–0.30 |
| Solution viscosity, cps | BAM 922 | 1,200 |
| Volatile matter, % | KM 04 | ≤0.3 |
| Tensile strength, Psi | ASTM D 412 | 3,100 |
Annex 4: Typical properties of EVA polymer
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Density (g/cm3) | ASTM D792 | 0.937 |
| Vinyl acetate comonomer content, % | – | 18 (by mass) |
| Melt flow index (190 °C/2.16 kg), g/10 min | ASTM D1238 | 2,5 |
| Melting point, °C | ASTM D3418 | 96 |
| Maximum processing temperature, °C | – | 235 °C |
| Softening point (°C) | ASTM D1525 | 74 |
| Thermal stabilizer | – | Butyl hydroxy toluene |
Annex 5: Typical properties of EBA polymer
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Density (23 °C), g/cm3 | ASTM D792 | 0.924 |
| Apparent density, g/l | ASTM D792 | ∼ 500 |
| Elongation at break (23 °C), % | ASTM D 412 | 860 |
| Modules of elasticity (Mpa) | ASTM D 412 | 62 |
| Softening range (°C) | ASTM D 1525 | 80–100 |
| Embrittlement range (°C) | – | <-30 |
| Ductility, cm | DIN EN 12591 | >15 |
Annex 6: Typical properties of RET modifier
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular structure | – | linear |
| Density, gr/cm3 | ASTM D 792 | 0.95 |
| Physical form | – | pellet |
| Tensile strength, psi | ASTM D 638 | 3,653 |
| Elongation at break, % | ASTM D 638 | 718 |
| Melt flow rate, g/10 min | ASTM D 1238 | 12 |
| Melting point, °C | ASTM D 3418 | 80 |
| Maximum processing temperature | – | 220 °C |
Annex 7: Typical properties of CR modifier
| Typical properties | Value |
|---|---|
| Density, kg/cm3 | 0.95 |
| Fineness modulus | 0.92 |
| Maximum particle dimension, mm | 2.5 |
Annex 8: Typical properties of TiO2 modifier
| Typical properties | Test method | Value |
|---|---|---|
| TiO2 content, % | – | ≥99 |
| Purity, % | – | 99.995 |
| Dimension, nm | – | 17 |
| Colour | – | white |
| Specific surface area (m2/g) | – | 220 |
| Bulk density (g/cm3) | – | 0.19 |
| Actual density (g/cm3) | – | 4.1 |
| Weight loss on drying (%) | – | 4.5 |
| Weight loss on ignition (%) | – | 8.5 |
| pH | – | 5.5–6.5 |
| Element analysis (%), Mg | – | 0.003 |
| Element analysis (%), Ca | – | 0.002 |
| Element analysis (%), Si | – | 0.005 |
| Element analysis (%), Al | – | 0.0001 |
Annex 9: Mainoxide analysis results of NC modifier
| Oxide name | Content (%) | Oxide name | Content (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al2O3 | 8.394 | Nb2O5 | 0.005885 |
| CaO | 0.1531 | NiO | 0.01105 |
| Cl | 0.4869 | P2O5 | 0.008532 |
| CuO | 0.007995 | Rb2O | 0.002243 |
| Fe2O3 | 0.5189 | SO3 | 0.04875 |
| GeO2 | 0.003939 | SiO2 | 42.99 |
| K2O | 0.1672 | TiO2 | 0.04296 |
| MgO | 2.174 | ZnO | 0.007696 |
| MnO | 0.01927 | ZrO2 | 0.004362 |
Annex 10: Typical properties of diatomite modifier
| SiO2 | Al2O3 | Fe2O3 | MgO | CaO | Na2O | K2O | TiO2 | P2O5 | MnO | SO3 | Cl | BaO | CuO | NiO | SrO | V2O5 | ZnO | ZrO2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | % | PPM | % | % | PPM | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
| Value | 73.955 | 8.989 | 2.899 | 2.485 | 2.270 | 0.207 | 1.256 | 0.511 | 0.206 | 0.102 | 0.014 | 94 | 0.032 | 0.194 | 0.227 | 0.038 | 0.0739 | ND | 0.028 |
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: DeepL (www.deepl.com) was used for minor English language edition.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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