Experimental investigation of the annealing temperature impacts on the physical, morphological, and gamma-ray attenuation properties of clay-based bricks

A series of bricks were fabricated and fired under different annealing temperatures extended between 400 °C and 800 °C. The role of annealing temperature on the fabricated bricks' characterization, physical, and γ-ray protection properties was examined experimentally. The current study showed an increase in the fabricated bricks' porosity from 11.66 % to 17.54 % associated with a reduction in the fabricated bricks' density from 1.30 g/cm3 to 1.23 g/cm3 with increasing the annealing temperature between 400 °C and 800 °C, respectively. The morphology examination proved by the Scanning electron microscope shows a decrease in the crystallinity phase associated with an increase in the glassy phase by raising the annealing temperature over 650 °C. Additionally, the experimental examination for the linear attenuation coefficient showed a reduction in the fabricated bricks’ linear attenuation coefficient values by ≈ 11.5 % at gamma-ray energies of 0.662 MeV and 1.252 MeV when the annealing temperature increased from 400 °C to 800 °C, respectively. The reduction in the linear attenuation coefficient is accompanied by an increase in the half-value thickness and lead equivalent thickness while it is accompanied by a reduction in the radiation protection efficiency of the fabricated bricks. •An illite clay mineral-based brick was fabricated at various annealing temperatures.•The annealing temperature impacts on morphology, and protection capacity are investigated.•The bricks' porosity increased from 11.6 % to 17.5%, raising the annealing temperature.•Raising the annealing temperature reduces the fabricated bricks density and shielding capacity.