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Heavy metal oxides (HMOs) can enhance the physical, optical, and radiation shielding properties of glass. Through the comprehensive consideration of the absorption edge, the fast neutron removal cross-section, and transmittance of heavy metal oxides, the rapid determination of the shielding material system is achieved. Herein, B 2 O 3 –TeO 2 –BaO-MO (M = Bi, W, Cd, Mo) glasses are synthesized by the melt quenching method, and the effects of various heavy metal oxides on the glass performance are investigated. The physical and optical property results show that the addition of Bi 2 O 3 provides glass with greater stiffness, a more densified glass network, and a relatively wide indirect optical bandgap compared to other oxides. Subsequently, the photon attenuation behavior of the B 2 O 3 –TeO 2 –BaO-MO glasses was evaluated using the MCNPX, Phy-X and XCOM. Compared to the shielding materials in service, all the four metal oxide glasses exhibit excellent shielding capabilities against X-rays, gamma rays, and fast neutron. Particularly, due to the higher density and effective atomic number of Bi 2 O 3 , its modified glass will have more extra-nuclear electrons per unit volume, which increases the probability of collision with incident photons, and thus exhibits superior radiation shielding properties than other glasses. The Bi 2 O 3 -modified glass exhibits an average specific lead equivalent of 0.441 mmPb/mm in the medical X-ray energy range (0.03–0.08 MeV), and only requires a thickness of 0.8 cm to achieve complete protection against this incident photon, which far exceeded the specific lead equivalent requirement of 0.22 mmPb/mm for "protection devices against diagnostic medical X-radiation". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the radiation shielding performance of the xBaO-(30-x)TeO2-35Bi2O3-35B2O3 glass system, where x = 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25, using Phy-X/PSD software and MCNPX Monte Carlo code. Key radiation shielding indicators, including attenuation coefficients, half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), mean free path (MFP), and build-up factors, were measured within the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. Further, the study assessed the glasses' capacity to block fast neutrons, using the fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR) as a metric. The results showed that gamma shielding effectiveness follows the order: BaTBiB-1 < BaTBiB-2 < BaTBiB-3 < BaTBiB-4 < BaTBiB-5 at all photon energies. Additionally, the ΣR values for BaTBiB-1 to BaTBiB-5 glasses were 0.10179, 0.10263, 0.10362, 0.10581, and 0.10623 cm−1, respectively. Therefore, the findings demonstrate that including BaO enhances the gamma and neutron shielding characteristics of tellurite glasses, making them valuable for radiation-related applications.

High density glass samples of chemical composition 70B2O3–20CaO–(10 − x)Bi2O3–xEu2O3: 0 (BCBEu0.0) ≤ x ≤ 1 (BCBEu1.0) mol% were synthesized by melt-quenched route. The amorphous structure of glass blocks is established by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum. The physical, mechanical properties as well as gamma-ray shielding characteristics of the synthesized glass blocks were investigated. Density of samples showed an increment from 5.0373 to 5.0736 gcm−3. The molar volume decreased from 25.012 cm3/mol for BCBEu0.0 (Eu = 0.0) to 24.605cm3/mol for BCBEu1.0 (Eu = 1.0). Elastic moduli and Poisson's ratio have been estimated according to Makishima and Mackenzie via the system values of dissociation free energies and packing densities. The oxygen molar volume decreased from 9.62 to 9.46346 cm3/mol, whereas Poisson's glasses ratio varies between 0.250 and 0.257 as the [Eu2O3] mol% is improved from 0 to 1.0 mol%. Young's modulus has a value of 63.202 GPa and increased to 65.002 GPa at lower and higher [Er2O3] mol%, respectively. Shielding properties of investigated glasses have been estimated utilizing XCOM, and Phys-X/PSD program. Mass and linear attenuation coefficient were found to increase as the mol% of Eu2O3 increased. The sample coded as BCBEu1.0 with high density possessed lowest values of half-value layer. The glass BCBEu1.0 pointed out to be a superior when used as radiation protection agent. The suggested glass sample loaded with high concentration of europium has a strong ability to guard against radiation as compared to glasses without and low concentration of europium and it can be used in the field of medicine, according to the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the radiation shielding performance of the xBaO-(30-x)TeO2-35Bi2O3- 35B2O3 glass system, where x = 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25, using Phy-X/PSD software and MCNPX Monte Carlo code. Key radiation shielding indicators, including attenuation coefficients, half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), mean free path (MFP), and build-up factors, were measured within the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. Further, the study assessed the glasses’ capacity to block fast neutrons, using the fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR) as a metric. The results showed that gamma shielding effectiveness follows the order: BaTBiB-1 < BaTBiB-2 < BaTBiB-3 < BaTBiB-4 < BaTBiB-5 at all photon energies. Additionally, the R values for BaTBiB-1 to BaTBiB-5 glasses were 0.10179, 0.10263, 0.10362, 0.10581, and 0.10623 cm−1, respectively. Therefore, the findings demonstrate that including BaO enhances the gamma and neutron shielding characteristics of tellurite glasses, making them valuable for radiation-related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium borate glasses doped with three transition metals: Ag, Cd and Zn were prepared with the melt-quenching method. Dopants concentrations were (Li2B4O7)(100−x) (Zn[NO3]2, CdN2O6, AgNO3) (x = 0%, 1%, 5%). Doped glasses were analyzed and their shielding features were determined. The XRD measurements show the amorphous state of the glasses. Fluorescence analysis shows the characteristic emission of Ag, Cd and Zn and their enhancement is explained. UV–vis spectra were recorded in the interval 200–900 nm, and show the peaks belonging to the plasmon of the three transition metals. The optical energy band gaps were calculated using the Tauc's plot model; also, the refractive index was calculated. Additionally, density (ρ) and molar volume (Vm) were calculated as part of the characterization of the samples. In order to determine the shielding features against gamma-rays the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ)(E), the half value layer (HVL(E)) and the Effective Atomic Number (Zeff(E)) for photons from 0.015 to 15 MeV using the Phy-X program. Resumen: Los vidrios de borato de litio dopados con tres metales de transición: Ag, Cd y Zn se prepararon con el método de enfriamiento por fusión. Las concentraciones de dopantes fueron (Li2B4O7)(100 − x) (Zn[NO3]2, CdN2O6, AgNO3) (x = 0%, 1%, 5%). Se analizaron los vidrios dopados y se determinaron sus características de protección. Las mediciones de XRD muestran el estado amorfo de las gafas. El análisis de fluorescencia muestra la emisión característica de Ag, Cd y Zn y se explica su mejora. Los espectros UV-vis se registraron en el intervalo 200-900 nm y muestran los picos pertenecientes al plasmón de los tres metales de transición. Los huecos de las bandas de energía óptica se calcularon utilizando el modelo de gráfico de Tauc; además, se calculó el índice de refracción. Además, la densidad (ρ) y el volumen molar (Vm) se calcularon como parte de la caracterización de las muestras. Para determinar las características de blindaje contra los rayos gamma, el coeficiente de atenuación de masa (μ/ρ)(E), la capa de valor medio (HVL(E)) y el Número Atómico Efectivo (Zeff(E)) para fotones de 0.015 a 15 MeV usando el programa Phy-X.

The current research report aimed the use of a bioactive glass systems of the chemical composition (80-x)SiO2–15CaO–5P2O5–xB2O3; 0 (MBG) ≤ x ≤ 15 (15.0B-MBG) mol% as radiation protection candidate for γ-rays. The density (ρ) of the investigated glasses reduced slightly from 2.6785 to 2.6637 g/cm3 and the molar volume (Vm) increased from 23.7353 to 24.4042 cm3/mol. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) for photon energies ranging from 15 keV to 100 keV using the XCOM code and Phys-X software was estimated. The highest discrepancy among the MAC values calculated by XCOM and Phys-X was found less than 2.5% at 15.0 keV and 5% at 100 keV. In terms of the effective-atomic-number (Zeff), it found that the sample encoded as MBG had the uppermost Zeff. In general, the analysis showed that the selected MBG-15.0B-MBG glasses provide adequate protection against low-energy photons (i.e., E < 30 keV), but their shielding ability decreases at high energies (60 < E < 100 keV). In addition, the various elastic-mechanical intrinsic of samples were calculated, including the total dissociation energy (G), which decreased from 65.425 to 57.565 kJ/cm3 as the B2O3 content increased from 0.0 to 15.0 mol%. The Poisson's ratio (σ) improved from 0.41253 to 0.41603 and Young's modulus reduced from 79.110 to 72.510 GPa. Results shows a significantly impact of B2O3 insertion into the investigated glasses network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various photon attenuation software tools are being used widely by researchers to evaluate the radiation shielding parameters of the elements/compounds/composites theoretically. Attempts are being made by a few researchers to update and develop software tools of these kinds. However, the efficacy of these tools in terms of their comparison is yet to be explored. Thus, an attempt has been made in the present study to compare & explore the best tool among the widely used and most trusted tools, such as Phy-X, XCOM, FFAST and XMuDat photon attenuation databases, to evaluate the shielding parameters of PVA-based composites filled with bismuth and tungsten, and also for materials such as bismuth, tungsten, gold, copper, platinum, lead and barite. Careful analysis of the data obtained computationally and experimentally shows that, although the Phy-X tool provides various shielding parameters with multiple choices in the selection of energy range, it is noticed that this tool needs to be figured out for obtaining the absorption edges of the composites of interest precisely. The XCOM database provides sharp absorption edges; however, this tool gives multiple values of mass attenuation coefficients corresponding to a particular absorption edge energy. On the other hand, The FFAST tool provides sharp absorption edges along with X ray fine structure. However, the tool restricts to work with elements and compounds in the energy range 1 keV–433 keV, which limits the utilization of this tool. Furthermore, the XMuDat tool has a limiting option to work with the materials available in its library/database and provides the mass attenuation coefficient and four other parameters. However, the XMuDat provides a large number of data points, which helps to identify any minute deviation in the values of the parameters. Therefore, the present study suggests that the XMuDat tool is much more advantageous and reliable than the other tools for the detailed study of various radiation shielding parameters.

We study the theoretical and simulated shielding properties of 69P2O5–10Gd2O3–10BaO–10ZnO–1Er2O3 and 69P2O5–10GdF3–10BaO–10ZnO-1Er2O3 glasses. We exploit advanced simulation (MCNPX) and Phy-X, an online Photon Shielding and Dosimetry software, in the 0.001–15 MeV energy range, to calculate the linear attenuation coefficient and mass attenuation coefficients of the samples. The obtained mass attenuation coefficient is then used to calculate the critical radiation shielding characteristics, such as the half-value layer, mean free path, tenth value layer, and effective atomic number. The calculated LAC values range from 108.759 to 0.097 and from 84.124 to 0.087 cm−1 while HVL values range from 0.006 to 7.164 and from 0.008 to 8.013 cm, and MFP values vary from 0.009 to 10.335 and from 0.012 to 11.561 cm for ZBaOEr and ZBaFEr, respectively, with energy ranging from 0.015 to 15 MeV. We find that the results obtained from MCNPX and Phy-X are consistent with each other, based on the computed relative difference. The glass sample containing Gd2O3 exhibits better shielding properties than the one with GdF3, over the entire energy range. Our examined glass samples are thick enough to substantially lessen the intensity of incident X-rays and gamma rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear technology finds extensive application across various industries, medical physics, and research institutions, spanning fields such as agriculture and food technology. Despite its benefits, the pervasive use of ionizing radiation underscores the need for effective shielding materials to mitigate associated risks. Lead and concrete, traditionally favored for their attenuation properties, pose challenges due to weight, opacity, and toxicity concerns. In this context, calcium aluminum barium sodium borate glasses doped with Dy3+ ions emerge as promising alternatives for radiation shielding. This study investigates the ionizing electromagnetic radiation (gamma and X-ray) shielding capabilities of calcium aluminum barium sodium borate glasses doped with Dy3+ ions across a range of concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% mol). The mass attenuation coefficients and linear attenuation coefficients of four glass samples (S1 to S4) were determined using the software (Phy-X). Additionally, parameters such as effective atomic number (Z eff), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL) and mean free path (mfp) were computed to assess shielding effectiveness. The results indicate that higher Dy3+ concentrations correlate with increased attenuation effectiveness, as evidenced by elevated μ and μ m values. Glass sample S4, with the highest Dy3+ concentration, demonstrated superior shielding properties, attributed to its elevated density. Notably, the study elucidates the relationship between attenuation coefficients and photon energy, highlighting the dominance of photoelectric and Compton scattering effects. Furthermore, analysis of HVL, mfp, and Z eff values reveals the nuanced interplay between glass composition and radiation attenuation. Despite variations in composition, S4 consistently exhibited optimal shielding characteristics across photon energy ranges. The investigation also examines exposure and energy absorption buildup factors, indicating that higher Dy3+ concentrations lead to lower buildup values, indicative of enhanced shielding performance. In conclusion, the study underscores the potential of Dy3+ doped calcium aluminum barium sodium borate glasses as effective radiation shielding materials, offering insights into their composition-dependent attenuation properties. These findings contribute to the development of lead-free alternatives and advance the understanding of radiation shielding mechanisms in glass matrices, with implications for diverse applications in nuclear technology and beyond. • Glasses doped with Dy3+ ions for radiation shielding has been investigated. • The MAC and LAC of six glass samples were determined using the software (Phy-x). • Higher Dy3+ concentrations correlate with increased attenuation effectiveness. • Radiation attenuation property increases as glass density increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of borosilicate glasses reinforced with various moles of MoO 3 with general chemical formula (52-X)B 2 O 3 +13SiO 2 +19.75BaO+ 0.25Sm 2 O 3 +15Na 2 O+XMoO 3 : (0.0 (BSMO-0.0) ≤ X ≤ 10.0 (BSMO-10.0) mol%) were prepared using the melt-quenching technique. The physical, optical absorption, electronic transitions, and linear/nonlinear optical properties as well as γ-ray absorption capacity has been investigated. Density (ρ) of the BSMO-X glasses enhanced from 2.83 g cm−3 to 3.16 g cm−3. Molar volume (V m) gradually decreased from 29.81 cm3/mol to 29.10 cm3/mol as MoO 3 concentration increased from 0.0 to 10.0 mol% in the glass network. The BSMO-X glass samples exhibit absorption peaks at wavelengths of 402, 476, 936, 1072, 1227, 1368, 1469, 1527, and 1944 nm which associated with the electronic transitions originating from the lowest energy state (6H 5/2) to 6P 3/2 , 4I 11/2 , 6F 11/2 , 6F 9/2 , 6F 7/2 , 6F 5/2 , 6F 3/2 , 6H 15/2 and 6H 13/2 states, respectively. The indirect optical energy gap (E g) changed from 3.15 eV to 2.82 eV, while the linear refractive index (n o) increased from 2.37 to 2.44. Mass- (MAC) and linear- (LAC) absorption coefficients increased as MoO 3 content increased in the glass network. The BSMO-10.0 possessed the lowest values of half-value (HVL) layer among all investigated samples. The BSMO-X glasses achieve higher capability in radiation shielding than some standard concrete and glasses. • B 2 O 3 +SiO 2 +BaO + Sm 2 O 3 +Na 2 O + MoO 3 glasses have been successfully fabricated. • Physical properties of the BSMO-X glasses have been studied. • Optical characteristics of the BSMO -X glasses have been investigated. • Radiation shielding capacity of the BSMO-X glasses has been examined. • Glasses can be used as alternative materials for optical and radiation protection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charged particles and photon interaction parameters of CsI(Na) scintillator were calculated by the theoretically computational program. The Phy-X programs were used to calculation gamma rays interaction at an energy range of 1 keV to 100 GeV. The stopping and range of ions in matter program were used for measurement the proton and alpha particles. The result found that the total mass attenuation coefficient decreased with the increasing of the high photon energy range and found the discontinuous energy due to the absorption edge of Cs and I. The effective atomic number and the effective electron density found the same trend with the total mass attenuation coefficient. The data of mass stopping powers for proton and alpha particle increase to the maximum value at kinetic energy 0.09, 0.6 MeV, respectively. The results showed that the energy at 5 keV, the ions entering the scintillator penetrate less deeply than the energy of the ions at 10 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of Gd2O3 on the structure, physical, neutrons and gamma-photon protection features of newly prepared (50-x)B2O3 + 25Bi2O3 + 25Na2O + xGd2O3 glasses with different Gd2O3 concentrations was investigated. Glasses have been prepared via solid-state conventional method and encoded as Gd0, Gd1, Gd2, Gd3, and Gd4, respectively, according to xGd2O3 values. X-ray diffraction measurements proved that all Gd-glasses were in an amorphous nature. The density of the samples was increased from 5.1021 to 6.3210 g.cm−3. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values were simulated via MCNPX in photon energy range of 15 keV–15 MeV and verified via XCOM program. The MACs were ranged from 28.69 to 32.52 cm2.g−1, while linear attenuation coefficient values were found to be ranged from 142 to 201 cm−1 for Gd0 and Gd4, respectively. The Gd4 glass has the lowest half value layer (HVL, highest radiation shielding capacity) among all the prepared Gd-glasses, several concretes, and conventional glasses. The atomic cross section (ACS) and electronic cross section (ECS) values were enhanced with the increment of Gd ratio in the sample compositions, and the measures of ACS were much greater than the ECS values. The effective atomic number (Zeff) values were ranged from 62.7 to 63.4 for Gd0 to Gd4, respectively. The effective conductivity (Ceff) is directly proportional to the density and effective electron density of the glass samples. By utilizing the Phy-X/PSD program, the maximum values of exposure buildup factor were slowly decreased with the addition of Gd2O3 contents and decreased from 55.8 to 55.3, while the highest energy absorption buildup factor increases slowly from 70.5 to 71.1 for glasses Gd0 and Gd4, respectively. The lowest values of fast neutron removal cross section (∑R, cm−1) were obtained for glasses Gd0 (∑R = 0.179 cm−1), while the highest value was obtained for glasses Gd4 (∑R = 0.179 cm−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five samples of borate glasses reinforced with various ratios of Fe3+ ions with chemical formula (60-X)B 2 O 3 –10ZnO–10CdO–5Li 2 O–15Na 2 O-XFe 2 O 3 : (0.0 (Fe-0.0) ≤ X ≤ 1 (Fe-1.0) mol%) were prepared using the melt-quenching technique. The structure, physical, optical characteristics, and γ-ray attenuation properties of the prepared Fe-X glasses have been investigated. The amorphous state of Fe-X glasses confirmed by XRD observations. Density (ρ glass) of the Fe-X glasses increased from 3.21 g cm−3 to 3.91 g cm−3. Molar volume (V m) gradually reduced from 18.87 cm3/mol to 15.35 cm3/mol with increasing Fe 2 O 3 content in the glass network from 0.0 to 1.0 mol%. The color of Fe-X glasses changed from yellow to brown according to the absorption bands located at around 385–412 nm and 407–429 nm within the visible spectrum. The indirect optical band gap (E g) decreased from 3.37 eV to 2.78 eV, while the linear refractive index (n o) increased from 2.31 to 2.45. Mass- (MAC) and linear- (LAC) attenuation coefficients increased as Fe3+ ions increased in the glass network. The Fe-1.0 sample with highest Fe 2 O 3 content possessed the lowest values of half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) shielding parameters. Results revealed that the suggested glass compositions can be applied in optical and radiation protection fields. • B 2 O 3 –ZnO–CdO–Li 2 O–Na 2 O–Fe 2 O 3 glasses have been successfully fabricated. • Physical properties of the Fe-X glasses have been studied. • Optical characteristics of the Fe-X glasses have been investigated. • Radiation shielding capacity of the Fe-X glasses has been examined. • Glasses can be used as alternative materials for optical and radiation protection applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, TeO 2 –Tl 2 O and TeO 2 –PbO glasses with various compositions were investigated for γ-ray shielding using Phy-X and MCNPX Code. A comparative analysis of the obtained results were performed. The effective atomic number and various parameters, including the mean free path, mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, and half value layer, were determined in the energy range of 0.01 MeV–15 MeV. It was found that 90TeO 2 –10Tl 2 O glass exhibit the lowest linear attenuation coefficient among the studied samples. At 60 keV, the 82TeO 2 –18Tl 2 O and 90TeO 2 –10Tl 2 O glasses had half-values of T 1/2 = 0.00094 cm and 0.00105 cm, respectively. At 100 keV, the mean free path of the examined materials is estimated to be 0.004 cm and 0.005 cm. The rise in effective atomic number was explained as a greater number of electrons available for photon interaction, which led to a lower chance of γ-ray transit through the shielding material. These results collectively underscore the potential of these glass compositions, particularly those containing thallium to be use as effective shielding materials. These materials have growing importance of effective radiation protection in various fields, including medical imaging, nuclear power, and space exploration. • Radiation shielding properties of Tl and Pb based tellurite glasses are studied. • All the shielding parameters were measured in 0.01 MeV–10 MeV energy range. • All sample shows increase in Z eff. • 90 TeO 2 -10 Tl 2 O glass exhibits the LAC among all the samples. • The studied glasses are promising candidate for the radiation shielding material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense glasses in the binary bismuth-borate system, x Bi 2 O 3 -(1- x)B 2 O 3 (BBO), x = 0.25, 0.5, & 0.75 were prepared by conventional melt-quenching process at different temperatures. The melt was hot pressed between the stainless-steel plates to obtain dense glasses. The glasses obtained were optically clear, thermally stable and amorphous in nature. Transparent BBO glasses exhibited high density in the range of 5.5–8.29 g/cm3 which is attributed to the high bismuth content and pressure induced compaction at high temperatures in the hot-pressed quenching. Gamma radiation shielding properties of the dense BBO glasses were investigated by calculating mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic number, and different buildup factors. Radiation shielding properties were calculated using the XCOM and Phy-X web software as a function of photon energy for all the glasses. Experimental mass-attenuation coefficients at different energies of the BBO glasses were determined through radiation transmission method. Measured mass-attenuation coefficients of the BBO glasses were in close agreement with the calculated values. Further, exposure and energy absorption buildup factors of the dense BBO glasses were studied at different penetration depths as a function of the photon energy. The results were compared with the heavy-metal oxide glasses reported in the literature and with respect to lead metal shield. Dense binary bismuth glass exhibited high mass-attenuation coefficients, and low half-value layer, and mean-free path which are comparable with the metal lead. The dense binary bismuth borate glasses reported here can be the excellent radiation shielding transparent simple glass system and promising for the radiological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the mechanical features and radiation shielding properties of (100–2x)TeO 2 +xAg2O + xWO 3 (where x = 7.5, 15, 22.5, and 30 mol%) glass system. Based on Makishima–Mackenzie's theory, the basic mechanical features such as packing density, Poisson's ratio, elastic moduli, hardness, and fractal bond connectivity were studied. The shielding investigations included the radiations of gamma, electron, neutron, and heavy charged particles. Geant4 toolkit and newly developed Phy-X program were employed to evaluate mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), transmission factors (HVL and MFP), exposure buildup factor (EBF) and effective atomic number (Z eff) of gamma and charged particles for the studied glasses. Neutron shielding investigation was examined by determining neutron removal cross section (NRCS) of the glasses involved. The results showed that Ag 2 O and WO 3 contents had an insignificant effect on the mechanical properties of the investigated glass system. In contrast, the Ag 2 O and WO 3 contents had a significant effect on the shielding capacity of the glasses against gamma radiation and charged particles. The Z eff values were in the range of 24–60 for gamma, 24–31 for electron, 18–24 for proton, 15–23 for alpha, and 13–19 for carbon ion. The shielding properties of these glasses were compared with those of commonly used shields. The investigated glass system can be used in shielding applications, wherein Ag 2 O and WO 3 contents can be balanced with the TeO 2 content according to the type and energy of the radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, with the help of Phy-X/PSD software, we studied the radiation shielding characteristics of 25Sb 2 O 3 –30PbO–(45−y) B 2 O 3 –yGd 2 O 3 glasses (with y = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mol%). The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) shows a progressive reduction with increase of energy, which denotes that the shielding efficiency of the PbSbBGd0- PbSbBGd1 glasses reduces when the energy was increased. The μ/ρ at 284 keV takes the values between 0.25988 and 0.26022 cm2/g and reduces to 0.18658 cm2/g (for PbSbBGd0) and 0.18673 (for PbSbBGd1) cm2/g at 347 keV. In addition, reasonable elevation in the linear attenuation factor (μ) values was observed with the addition of Gd 2 O 3. This implies that, an improvement in the gamma rays shielding characteristics has occurred with the addition of Gd 2 O 3. PbSbBGd1 sample had the largest μ values compared to all other glasses and equal to 1.418, 1.018, 0.401, 0.297 and 0.220 cm-1 at 284, 347, 826, 1275 and 2506 keV respectively. The results show that the replacement of B 2 O 3 by Gd 2 O 3 increases the effective atomic number (Z eff) for the PbO–Sb 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 –Gd 2 O 3 glass system and the Z eff of PbSbBGd1 is higher than that of PbSbBGd0- PbSbBGd0.8 samples, whereas that of PbSbBGd0 is the lowest. The mean free path (MFP) shows strong energy dependence and becomes larger at higher energies. The MFP shows gradual decrease, as the content of Gd 2 O 3 was increased at the expense of B 2 O 3 which implies that radiation attenuation features for the PbSbBGd0- PbSbBGd1 specimen have improved with more amount of Gd 2 O 3. The least half value layer (HVL) is found at 284 keV for all concentrations of Gd 2 O 3 and equals to 0.537 cm (for PbSbBGd0) and 0.489 cm (for PbSbBGd1). While, the highest HVL is registered at 2506 keV and equals to 3.456 cm for PbSbBGd0 and 3.152 cm for PbSbBGd1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the detailed investigations on the radiation shielding features of TeO 2 –B 2 O 3 –Bi 2 O 3 –LiF–SrCl 2 glass system. The recent software namely Phy-X/PSD has been used to report the change in the photons attenuation features of this glass system with increasing the content of TeO 2 from 25 to 85 mol% between 347 keV and 2506 keV. The results show that replacing B 2 O 3 with TeO 2 causes the increase in the density of the glass from 3.66 to 5.91 g cm−3 which lead to increase the linear attenuation factor (μ). The μ has a direct relationship with energy and has a highly large value at 0.347 MeV (between 0.550 and 0.896 cm−1). The maximum effective atomic number occurs at 0.347 MeV and equals to 17.75, 19.78, 21.94, 24.24, 26.68, 29.29 and 32.07 for the TeBBiLS1- TeBBiLS7 samples. Thereafter, Z eff decreases quickly down to 0.826 MeV, and becomes almost constant between 1.173 and 1.333 MeV and very slightly increases at 2.506 MeV. The tenth value layer results imply that increasing the weight percentage of TeO 2 in the glasses from 25 to 85 mol% can reduce the thickness needed to attenuate or block the photons. TeBBiLS1 has the maximum half value layer (HVL) and was found to be in the range of 3.034–4.823 cm and TeBBiLS7 sample has the lowest HVL. Also, the results revealed that as the density increased, the mean free path (MFP) gradually decreased, and the attenuation ability improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma and neutron shielding potential of the newly developed xAg 2 O-(35-x)[0.5V 2 O 5 -0.5MoO 3 -65TeO 2 (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mol%) quaternary tellurite glass system were investigated computationally by means of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations and Phy-X software. Gamma ray shielding capabilities were studied via the mass attenuation coefficient (μ m), transmission fractions (T), effective atomic number (Z eff), half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) parameters and for the photon energies of 0.284, 0.356, 0.511, 0.662, 1.173 and 1.330 MeV. Fast neutron removal cross-section (∑ R) parameter of the glasses was calculated to assess the neutron shielding capabilities. The results of this study revealed that tellurite glass containing 25% moles of Ag 2 O has highest μ m and Z eff and lowest T, HVL and MFP values due to the high atomic number of Ag. In this study it was also seen that the ∑ R of the investigated glass system increases with the increase of Ag 2 O fraction and ∑ R values of the studied glasses are higher than barite added concrete and close to the ∑ R of the PbO added borate glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, fast neutron removal cross-section and γ -ray shielding capabilities in terms of mass attenuation coefficient ( μ m ), transmission fractions (T), effective atomic numbers (Z eff ), half-value layer (HVL) and exposure build-up factors (EBF) of the 64 TeO 2 + 15 ZnO + (20 - x) CdO + x BaO + 1 V 2 O 5 ( x = 0 , 5 , 10 , 15 , 20 mol%) glass system have been evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations carried out with Geant4 model of the high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector and Phy-X database software. The results of this study revealed that γ -ray shielding capability of the studied glass system increases with the increase of BaO content and decrease of CdO content in the chemical structure due to the high atomic number (Z) of Ba compared to Cd. The results also showed that increase of BaO fraction in the glass structure weakens the neutron shielding ability and by the use of low Z elements in the composites better shielding performance against neutrons can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-melting-point Ga–In–Sn–Bi alloys were synthesized using the organic solvent melting process for low-energy X-ray shielding. The existence of a liquid Ga-rich phase gives the alloys a low-melting point, and the Ga phase is distributed along the boundaries of other phases so that the alloy shows a regular organization similar to that of a biological cells distribution. The X-ray experiment confirms that the molten Ga 2 In 2 Sn 5 Bi 1 alloy can be coated at room temperature with good adhesion, continuity, and electrical conductivity and its coating has an effective photon absorption capability. Afterward, to evaluate the photon attenuation ability of Ga–In–Sn–Bi alloys, radiation attenuation parameters were determined using MCNPX simulation and the Phy-X procedure. The Ga–In–Sn–Bi alloys exhibit better photon shielding performance than Pb in the 30–80 keV photon energy range and significantly reduce in weight that Pb under the same shielding conditions. The low-temperature coating and low-energy photon shielding properties of Ga–In–Sn–Bi alloys give them great application potential in the field of shielding coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation shielding parameters of oxidized compounds of some selected rare earth elements were determined. These parameters are mass absorption coefficient, effective atomic number, electron density, half-value layer, tenth value layer, and mean free path values. A variable energy x-ray (VEX) source was used as an exciter in the system, where these basic parameters will be determined. An experimental setup was prepared in attenuation geometry. Experimentally measured and theoretically calculated mass attenuation values of the target materials were used to calculate radiation protection parameters. As can be seen from previous works, the WinXCOM program efficiently calculates theoretical atomic cross-sections and mass absorption coefficients. As a result of the search for alternatives to this software, ParShield and Phy-X programs have emerged at different times. In this study, the validity of ParShield and Phy-X programs produced as other options to the WinXCOM program were tested, and the results were found to be entirely satisfactory. • The radiation shielding parameters are commonly used in nuclear power plants and healthcare organizations. • The radiation shielding parameters have been determined experimentally and theoretically. • The energy range's width provides a large work area. • Our present experimental values are in good agreement with theoretical values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly flexible stretchable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composite loaded with a low-melting-point Ga 1 In 1 Sn 7 Bi 1 multiprincipal element alloy (LMPEA) was prepared, and its radiation shielding performance was evaluated. The fluid characteristic of LMPEA and the flexibility of TPU enable good interface compatibility. Ga 1 In 1 Sn 7 Bi 1 LMPEA consists of two eutectic structures, and the liquid gallium-rich phases are distributed at the boundary of the InBi intermetallic compound and Sn solid solution. In the low-photon energy range of 30–80 keV, LMPEA has a theoretical specific lead equivalent of 0.803 mmPb/mm and a theoretical weight reduction of 17.27% compared with lead. To evaluate the photon attenuation capability for the LMPEA/TPU composites, the Phy-X procedure and Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine the shielding parameters, such as the mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, tenth-value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, and fast neutron removal cross section. The attenuation performance test of X-ray protective materials measured the actual lead equivalent. At the same thickness, the LMPEA/TPU composite (66.667, 50.000 wt% LMPEA loading) has a higher measured lead equivalent than the in-service medical shielding materials, which meets the lead equivalent requirements of X-ray protective clothing. LMPEA/TPU composites are nontoxic, lightweight, and have excellent low-energy X-ray shielding ability, offering great potential for application in medical wearable materials. • Low-melting-point Ga 1 In 1 Sn 7 Bi 1 alloy/TPU composite for low energy X-ray shielding. • Fluid characteristics LMPEA and flexible TPU give them good interface compatibility. • LMPEA has 0.803 mmPb/mm lead equivalent and 17.27% weight loss compared with lead. • Highly load composite meet lead equivalent requirement of X-ray protective clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of barium oxide to the elastic and shielding properties of alumina bismuth borate glass system with the compositions (BaO) x (Al 2 O 3) 0.05 (Bi 2 O 3) 0.3 (B 2 O 3) 0.65- x where x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 mol% and classified as G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6 and G7 were investigated. The elastic properties of the glass system were examined by bulk density, molar volume, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and non-destructive ultrasonic velocity measurement. The experimental results show that the density of the glass sample increase and molar volume of the glass sample was decrease. The XRD analysis revealed that the glass sample shows the characteristics of the amorphous nature without any sharp lines or peaks while the FTIR revealed the major broad absorption bands for borate glass structure. The ultrasonic velocities and elastic moduli measurement shows an increasing trend with the addition of BaO. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) demonstrated that the presence of BaO enhances the MAC values, resulting in an improvement in the shielding competency of the fabricated glasses. The highest interactions between photons and the atoms of the glasses occur around 0.122 MeV, and the glass samples have an excellent blocking capacity to photons, according to the effective atomic number (Z eff) data. Furthermore, the half value layer (HVL) revealed that when the BaO level in the composition increases, the HVL values will reduces. As a conclusion, the radiation shielding factors revealed that G7 glass with 30 mol% of BaO is the optimum performance of the produced samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulation were applied to simulate the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) for five various rock samples collected from southwestern Sinai, Egypt. Also, for the same rocks we determined the MAC and exposure buildup factors (EBF and EABF) theoretically using Phy-X/PSD software. The results show that there is adequate agreement between experimental and simulated results as well as with the Phy-X/PSD data. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) decreases as the photon energy increases. The decrease is dramatically steep for energies bellow 0.3445 MeV and then gradually decreases with further increasing in the energy. Basalt-2 has slightly higher μ than basalt-1 and both rocks have higher μ than limestone (Dike), Basalt sill, and Rhyolite. We also calculated the effective atomic number (Z eff) for the investigated rocks and the Z eff values are in the range of 18.80–23.68, 18.52–23.57, 13.98–20.49, 19.15–23.89 and 22.32–26.68 for baslat-1, basalt-2, dike, basalt-sill and rhyolite respectively. The result showed that basalt-2 possesses the lowest half value layer at all energies followed by basalt-1. The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) at 122 keV is found to be in the range of 34.295–38.982%, while at 662 keV in the range of 17.402–22.886. The obtained results of EBF and EABF showed that limestone (Dike) possess the highest EBF and EABF while samples Basalt-1 and Basalt-2 possess the lowest EBF and EABF among the studied rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we reported the gamma ray shielding factors for barium phosphate glasses with composition yCaF 2 –(50−y)BaO–50P 2 O 5 (y = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mol%). The Phy-X/PSD software has been used to report the attenuation and penetration factors for this glass system at different energies. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values are found to reduce exponentially with increasing the energy and they range from 0.176 to 0.496 cm−1 (for CaBaP1) and 0.184–0.548 cm−1 (for CaBaP6). It was found that the addition of barium oxide (BaO) causes an increase in the LAC values from 0.697 to 0.787 cm−1 at 0.284 MeV, and from 0.259 to 0.273 cm−1 at 0.662 MeV. The effective atomic number (Z eff) results revealed the higher photons interaction possibility at the higher BaO content. The maximum Z eff is reported at 0.284 MeV and equal to 18.33 for CaBaP1and 20.15 for CaBaP6. Phy-X/PSD program has been used to find the half value layer (HVL) for the glasses under evaluation between 0.284 and 1.33 MeV. The HVL results showed that more gamma rays are being shielded at 0.284 MeV, whereas the possibility of photon shielding is decreased with the increasing of the energy. The tenth value layer (TVL) values were decreased with increase in BaO concentrations and increased with increase in the energy. CaBaP6 has the minimum TVL (4.206 cm at 0.284 MeV, 8.445 cm at 0.662 MeV and 12.252 cm at 1.275 MeV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]