Automated measurement of radon exhalation of some building materials in the Philippines

Date

10-2004

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Marvin U. Herrera

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the radon activity concentration and exhalation rates of some building materials commonly used in the Philippines. The "can-technique" by Abu Jarad and others was employed using alpha sensitive CR-39 polymer detector. A software for automatic counting of tracks registered on the sensor was developed and evaluated. Radon activity was found lowest for gravel samples with an average of 20 Bq m-3. Cement was found to have the highest radon activity at 187.67 Bq ni3. Exhalation rates for sand and gravel samples were found to be at the normal level, 36 mBq nf2 11-1 (0.68 mBq kg-1 and 21 mBq m-2 If' (0.38 mBq kg-1 h-1), respectively. The high exhalation rate from cement samples, 199 mBq rn-2 If' (3.66 mBq kg-h-4), can be explained by the fly ash additive of the samples used. Therefore, using fly ash as additive to building materials elevates radon activity and exhalation. The software developed for automatic counting of tracks responded with an average of 6% count difference from manual method. Count accuracy of the automatic method was not affected by the shape of tracks but can be affected by the track resolution and connectivity. On the average, the automatic method increased manual counting speed by 268.68%. Therefore, the software developed for automatic counting of nuclear tracks is a considerable alternative to manual method in terms of speed.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Document Type

Thesis

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