The radiation resistance of tungsten-nickel-iron alloy is one of its most prominent special properties, referring to the ability of the alloy to block and absorb various rays (such as X-rays, γ-rays, neutrons, etc.) and high-energy particles. This property makes it irreplaceable in radiation environment fields such as nuclear industry, medical treatment, aerospace and so on. Its radiation resistance mainly comes from the high proportion of tungsten and the high density characteristic of the alloy, and is also related to the type and energy of rays.
Tungsten, as a metal element with a high atomic number (74), has a strong attenuation ability for electromagnetic radiation. When X-rays, γ-rays, etc. pass through tungsten, they will interact with tungsten atoms through photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and electron pair effect, and a large amount of energy is absorbed, thus effectively reducing the penetration ability of rays. In tungsten-nickel-iron alloy, the content of tungsten is as high as 80% – 97%, forming a dense atomic barrier, which greatly increases the probability of interaction between rays and atoms when passing through the alloy, and the absorption effect is significant. Compared with traditional lead shielding materials, tungsten has a higher atomic number, and the shielding effect on high-energy rays is better under the same thickness. Moreover, tungsten is non-toxic, avoiding the harm of lead to the environment and human body.
The high density (16.5 – 18.7g/cm³) of the alloy further enhances its radiation resistance. High density means that there are more atoms per unit volume, and the number of atoms encountered by rays in the same path length increases, resulting in more rapid energy loss. For high-energy particles (such as α particles, β particles, neutrons, etc.), the high-density alloy can consume their energy through collision, scattering and other ways to prevent their penetration. For example, in nuclear reactors, fast neutrons will have elastic collisions with tungsten atoms, and their energy is gradually reduced and finally moderated and absorbed, thus reducing the radiation hazard of neutrons to the surrounding environment.
Different types of rays have different effects on the radiation resistance of the alloy. For electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays and γ-rays, the shielding effect of the alloy is approximately exponential with thickness. As the thickness increases, the shielding effect improves significantly; for neutron radiation, although tungsten has a good moderating effect on fast neutrons, it usually needs to be used with hydrogen-containing materials to further improve the absorption capacity of slow neutrons. In addition, the higher the ray energy, the greater the alloy thickness required to achieve the ideal shielding effect. Therefore, in practical applications, the appropriate alloy thickness should be designed according to the type and energy of the radiation source.
In practical applications, the radiation resistance of tungsten-nickel-iron alloy has been widely reflected. In the medical field, it is used to manufacture shielding covers for radiation therapy equipment and protective shells for CT machines to protect medical staff and patients from excessive radiation; in the nuclear industry, it is used as shielding layers for nuclear reactors and protective materials for nuclear waste storage containers to ensure the safe operation of nuclear facilities; in the aerospace field, it is used for radiation protection components of spacecraft to protect astronauts from cosmic rays. By adjusting the tungsten content and thickness of the alloy, it can flexibly meet the protection needs in different radiation environments, making it an efficient and safe radiation shielding material.
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