Radiation Shielding Properties of Mortars and Plasters Used in Historical Buildings

Abstract

In this study, the radiation absorption properties of mortars and plasters used in historical buildings have been investigated. Studied lime concretes contained such additives as brick dust, fertilizer, wet lime, wool, egg white, bone meal, rice, casein, whey, bone ash and tree leaf juice, in different concentrations. The linear attenuation coefficients of gamma rays in lime concretes have been measured at 662, 1773 and 1332 keV. The gamma rays have been obtained from Cs-137 and Co-60 sources and the measurements have been performed using a gamma spectrometer, based on a 3 '' x 3 '' NaI(Tl) detector, connected to 16384-channel multi-channel analyser.