Sains Malaysiana 48(2)(2019): 443–449

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4802-23

Kesan Integriti Pemerisaian Sinaran Seramik Mullite-Barite (MBC) terhadap Kejadian Kebakaran

(Radiation Shielding Integrity of Mullite-Barite Ceramic (MBC) due to Fire Events)

AZUHAR RIPIN^1,2, FAIZAL MOHAMED^2*, MOHD IDZAT IDRIS² & NUR SYAFIKA SUHAIMIN²

¹Medical Physics Group, Malaysia Nuclear Agency, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Nuclear Science Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 5 Jun 2018/Diterima: 29 Oktober 2018

ABSTRACT

Mullite-barite ceramic (MBC) prototype which contains a major phase of barium aluminosilicate (BAS) mineral is an anti-radiation ceramics which is derived from Malaysian kaolin Akima-35 and local barites using conventional ceramics processing route. MBC is a low cost and high performance ceramics which resistance to fire events are fabricated and characterised according to their microstructure properties and radiation test to ensure the shielding capability of the ceramics. The MBC will be used as shielding materials for walls, floor and ceiling of medical x-ray radiation facilities in clinics, medical centers and hospitals. The prepared MBC was undergoing microstructure analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Field Electron Microscope (FESEM) to see the phase and morphological of the ceramics. Lead equivalent (LE) and homogeneity test was carried out to evaluate the shielding performance of the MBC before the ceramics are fired with different building fire temperature. The temperature used to simulate the fire events are 400, 900, and 1100°C which is burnt in the high temperature electrical furnace. The fired MBC once again underwent XRD and FESEM to see any changes in the phase and morphology. The lead equivalent and homogeneity test also repeated to see the changes in the shielding performance. From the study, the microstructure analysis from XRD and FESEM obtained shows no significant changes of Monoclinic Barium Aluminosilicate (BAS), which are the major shielding phase in the ceramics before and after fire events. The lead equivalent test and homogeneity also remains the same before and after fire events with the maximum LE calculated are 0.38 mm Pb and 3.6% of homogeneity. From the study, it can be concluded that if the fire event occurred in the radiation facilities, the shielding performance and integrity of the shielding will be remained and the temperature will not degraded the shielding capabilities of the ceramics as do happen for a conventional shielding material.

Keywords: Lead equivalent thickness; medical X-ray; mullite-barite ceramics (MBC); radiation shielding

ABSTRAK

Prototip seramik mullite barite (MBC) yang mengandungi fasa utama mineral barium aluminosilikat (BAS) merupakan seramik anti-sinaran yang dihasilkan daripada kaolin Malaysia akima-35 dan serbuk barite tempatan melalui kaedah pemprosesan seramik konvensional. MBC akan digunakan sebagai bahan perlindungan sinaran untuk dinding, lantai dan juga siling bagi kemudahan sinar-X perubatan di klinik, pusat perubatan dan juga hospital. MBC yang disediakan akan menjalani analisis struktur mikro menggunakan teknik serakan sinar-X (XRD) dan mikroskop imbasan medan elektron (FESEM) terutamanya bagi penentuan fasa serta morfologi seramik yang terhasil. Ujian ketebalan kesetaraan plumbum (LE) dan keseragaman dijalankan bagi menilai prestasi pemerisaian MBC sebelum dan selepas dibakar. Suhu simulasi kebakaran bangunan yang digunakan adalah 400, 900 dan 1100οC yang dibakar di dalam relau elektrik bersuhu tinggi. MBC yang dibakar ini akan sekali lagi melalui ujian XRD dan FESEM bagi melihat sebarang perubahan fasa dan morfologi sampel seramik tersebut. Ujian ketebalan kesetaraan plumbum dan keseragaman sekali lagi ditentukan bagi melihat perubahan prestasi pemerisaian. Daripada analisis struktur mikro menerusi XRD dan FESEM didapati tiada perubahan fasa Barium Aluminosilicate (BAS) yang signifikan berlaku bagi seramik sebelum dan selepas kebakaran. Keputusan ujian ketebalan kesetaraan plumbum dan keseragaman juga tetap sama direkodkan bagi MBC sebelum dan selepas kebakaran berlaku dengan ketebalan maksimumnya adalah 0.38 mmPb dan 3.6% keseragaman direkodkan. Daripada kajian ini dapat disimpulkan bahawa jika berlakunya kebakaran pada kemudahan penyinaran, prestasi pemerisaian dan keseragaman MBC dijangka tidak berubah seperti yang berlaku pada bahan perlindungan konvensional.

Kata kunci: Ketebalan kesetaraan plumbum; perisai perlindungan sinaran; seramik mullite-barite (MBC); sinar-X perubatan

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: faizalm@ukm.edu.my