15/10/2026
Filipino researchers have investigated a promising way to improve concrete by incorporating Philippine natural zeolite (PNZ), a naturally occurring mineral with potential applications in construction and radiation protection. The study, published in the scientific journal Radiation Physics and Chemistry and highlighted by the University of the Philippines on September 29, 2026, examined whether replacing part of ordinary Portland cement with locally sourced zeolite could improve concrete's mechanical properties and ability to reduce penetrating radiation. Researchers tested three concrete mixtures containing 0%, 20%, and 40% zeolite as partial replacements for cement by mass. The zeolite was sourced from Pangasinan, Philippines. Their findings showed that the 40% zeolite mixture achieved approximately a 400% increase in average compressive strength compared with the control mixture, demonstrating how mineral additives can significantly influence concrete performance under the tested conditions.
The researchers attributed the improvement in strength partly to a chemical process known as the pozzolanic reaction, in which reactive components of zeolite interact with calcium hydroxide produced during cement hydration, contributing to the formation of additional cementitious compounds. However, the mixture that achieved the highest mechanical strength was not the same one that performed best in radiation shielding. The 20% zeolite mixture demonstrated the strongest overall attenuation of the tested X-ray and gamma-ray energies, producing the highest measured linear attenuation coefficients at 65, 100, 118, and 662 kiloelectronvolts. Radiation attenuation refers to the reduction in radiation intensity as it passes through a material, an important consideration in designing protective barriers for medical imaging facilities, laboratories, and other environments where ionizing radiation is used. These findings suggest that different zeolite replacement levels may be selected depending on whether structural strength or radiation shielding is the primary design objective.
Beyond its technical performance, the research highlights the potential environmental and economic benefits of using locally available minerals in specialized construction materials. Cement production contributes substantially to global carbon dioxide emissions, so partially replacing cement with suitable supplementary materials could help reduce cement consumption, although the overall environmental benefit must be evaluated through a complete life-cycle assessment. The study was conducted by researchers affiliated with the University of the Philippines Manila, the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and the University of the Philippines Diliman. While the experimental results are promising, further investigations into long-term durability, different mixture proportions, structural performance, and radiation protection under actual operating conditions are needed before widespread practical adoption. The findings demonstrate how Philippine scientific research can explore locally sourced materials to develop potentially stronger, more resource-efficient, and more effective radiation-shielding concrete.
Authors: Maria Cecilia SB. Rosero (Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Manila), Marianna Lourdes Marie L. Grande (Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute), Eric M. Inocencio (Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Manila | Medical Imaging Department, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Philippines), and Mon Bryan Z. Gili (Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute | Materials Science and Engineering Program, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman)
Published in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Photo courtesy: Shox Art from Pexels
Science Department |
