High Density Concrete
As the name suggests, the density of this concrete varies from 3360 kg/m3 to 3840 kg/m3, whereas the density of normal concrete is of the order of 2400 kg/m3. The density of light weight concrete is about 1900 kg/m3 and that of normal concrete about 2400 kg/m3. Thus the density of high density concrete is about 50% more than the density of conventional concrete. However this concrete can be produced of density upto 5200 kg/m3 using iron as both fine and coarse aggregate.
With the advent of the nuclear energy, there is a considerable demand of the concrete technologists in the market. Due to the use of nuclear energy producing reactors, large scale production of penetrating radiation and radioactive materials also has taken place.
Thus all nuclear energy producing units such as nuclear reactors, particle accelerator, industrial radiography, x-ray and gamma ray therapy units require nuclear shielding material for the protection of the operating personnel against the biological hazards such as radiation. The normal as well as high density concrete is effective and economical for the construction of permanent shield against radiation.