Neutron shielding and constructional characteristics of a new type concrete and from borated clinker

A boron containing cement, which can be used as nuclear shielding material, is produced at pilot plant scale applying two different methods. In the first method, the raw mixture of a normal portland cement is mixed with pre-calcined colemanite, a calcium borate mineral, and clinkerized in a rotary kiln (borated-clinker). In the second method, the colemanite is mixed with an admixture, which contains mainly limestone and marl, and burnt in the rotary kiln to obtain a borated-lime composite. The borated-lime composite is then added to the normal portland cement clinker up to 2% B2O3 content for shielding purpose. The results have shown that the borated-clinker contained untolerable amount of free lime resulting in a decrease in compressive strength. The addition of the borated-lime composite to the normal portland cement clinker up to 1% B2O3 content did not alter the setting time and the volume expansion properties. The reduction in the compressive strength was found to be tolerable, however, the decrease in the bending strength was 20% lower than that of permissible value. On the other hand, the increase in B2O3 content of the mixture improved the neutron absorptivity resulting in an increase in total cross-section about 7 times for 1% B2O3 without changing the gamma absorption value