INSWAREB-BARC-NPCIL team up to develop radiation-proof concrete

The Institute of Solid Waste Research and Ecological Balance (INSWAREB), Visakhapatnam, will utilise the reactor facilities at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to produce the samples of Irradiated Complementary Cement Materials (ICCMs) for further studies. The institute has proposed collaboration with BARC and the Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd (NPCIL) to explore the use of adopting Nano Concrete in shield wall and other suitable structures to increas durability of concrete structures.

INSWAREB Director General N. Bhanumathidas and Director N. Kalidas told the media on Monday that research conducted by various studies globally over the years, and more recently by the University of Tokyo had established the raidiation can cause the failure of concrete in nuclear structures. INSWAREB has taken a positive clue of this ‘failure due to amorphization’ and concluded that it was the amorphous content in fly ash and other Complementary Cement Materials (CCMs) that improves the durability and service life of concrete.

They have submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for due studies on producing Irradiated Complementary Cement Materials in Indian reactors to prove their point. If results are promising they intend to propose designing a commercial reactor for converting mineral quartz, fly ash, rice husk ash (RHA) into Irradiated CCMs (ICCMs) for the betterment of the cement-concrete industry.

Mr. Kalidas said that BARC has agreed in principle to make available ‘Dhruva’ reactor. They indicated to give samples to produce up to 90 gm of ICCMs as against our requirement for 40 kg to 50 kg. “We had also approached the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory in the USA, and they have advised us to tie up with some universities in the US to avail the collaborative research,” he said.

INSWAREB has also offered its innovation, Nano concrete (NAC) as a means to resist radiation in the shield walls of nuclear reactors. Fly ash contains a mineral called ‘mullite’ by over 20% to 30%, which is moderately resistive to radiation. As NAC constitutes 60% to 70% fly ash, it would resist radiation. More radiation-resistive chemicals could be added in addition to heavy weight aggregates, if required, he added. For this they offered a conceptual design and work plan to execute shield wall with dense aggregate core covered by Nano Concrete plates on both sides, which will serve need of attenuation as well durability with long service life.