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Development and Characterization of a W8Ni3Cu Alloy for Gamma Radiation Shielding

Armando C. Souza, Flavio Aristone, Marco A. A. Cortez, Munique S. de Lima, Duilio R. Porto, Rafaela M. da Silva, Jesualdo L. Rossi

Nuclear Technology / Volume 211 / Number 8 / August 2025 / Pages 1609-1618

Rapid Communication / dx.doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2428912

Received:July 12, 2024
Accepted:October 7, 2024
Published:June 27, 2025

This study investigates the potential of a W8Ni3Cu alloy as a gamma radiation shielding material for transporting highly radioactive substances. The alloy, composed of tungsten (W), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu), was characterized using X-ray diffraction after sintering, revealing a body-centered-cubic crystal structure with an α-tungsten phase and a secondary γ-nickel-tungsten (Ni17W3) phase. The gamma radiation attenuation coefficients of the alloy were measured using a 60Co source. The results showed linear attenuation coefficients of 0.688 cm-1 for the alloy sintered at 1200°C and 0.488 cm-1 for the alloy sintered at 1300°C. These values are 34% and 53% lower than the reference value of pure tungsten (1.044 cm-1), but they still demonstrate adequate shielding properties for practical use. The findings suggest that the W8Ni3Cu alloy is a promising candidate for fabricating containers for the safe transport of radioactive material.