Radiation Shielding Glasses, Composites, and Concrete
This community develops materials that block ionizing radiation, including gamma rays and neutrons, for use in nuclear facilities, medical imaging, and industrial safety.
The research focuses heavily on borate and borosilicate glass systems, often doped with high-atomic-number oxides like bismuth, lead, or tungsten to enhance attenuation. A significant portion of the work involves Monte Carlo simulations to predict shielding efficiency and structural properties. Beyond glasses, the community investigates radiation-shielding concrete, polymeric composites, and ceramics, evaluating their mechanical strength, thermal stability, and optical characteristics alongside their ability to reduce radiation exposure.
The largest share of the community's output is found in boron research, accounting for 0.8% of all boron research, and bismuth research, accounting for 0.8% of all bismuth research. Boron also contributes the highest raw paper count within this group, with 1,211 papers.
The community comprises 8,495 papers, published primarily in Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, and Ceramics International. Recent work continues to explore the integration of radiation shielding with mechanical and optical properties in borate glasses, as well as the development of 3D-printed photopolymer composites and sustainable concrete formulations for dual-function neutron and gamma protection.