The properties of silicate glass specimens for photon, neutron, and charged particles shielding: The roles of Bi<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>

Abstract

This experimental research aimed to study the photons, neutrons, and charged particles shielding properties of the glass specimens in the ratios xBi2O3: 5Li2O: 20ZnO: (75-x)SiO2 where; x = 20, 25, 30, and 35 mol%. The specimens have been synthesized by the melt-quenching technique at 1200 °C. The WinXCom program used to compute the theoretical values of the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC). The Compton scattering technique is employed to be in the experiment for comparing the theoretical values in the energy range 0.225 MeV–0.662 MeV from the Cs-137 source. The result found that density and molar volume similarly increase and created non-bridging oxygen (NBO) in glass structure. The MAC, effective atomic number (Zeff), and effective electron density (Neff) similarly abated with energy aggrandized and depended on the Bi2O3 concentrations. The half-value layer (HVL) and tenth-value layer (TVL) showed less thickness than other materials in the radiation shielding ability. The energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) are the same trends and depend on the penetration depth and energy range. The total mass stopping power (TMSP) and projected range (PR) have been reported using the SRIM program for charged particles shielding properties, and also concluded to calculate the fast neutron removal cross-section (FNRCS).