Characterization of a broad range gamma-ray and neutron shielding properties of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3 and Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glass systems

In this research, the radiation shielding parameters for two glass systems with composition of 20MgO-(20-x)Al2O3-57SiO2-3B2O3-xCr2O3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mol%) and Na2O-Al2O3 SiO2 glasses were studied. For this purpose, a scintillation detector namely 3 × 3 inch NaI(Tl) has been designed for detection of photons through MCNPX simulation code. Thus, the mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) and some other gamma shielding quantities were calculated. The estimated MCNPX data of all the glasses were compared and approved with those of WinXCOM program. The gamma ray buildup factors for the two glass systems were also determined in a wide energy range of 0.02–15 MeV for penetration depths up to 15 mfp. The results revealed that the mass attenuation coefficients for the glass samples in the first glass system are higher than those in the glasses in the second system and thus the glasses coded as MASBC have more ability in reducing radiation than NAS glasses. Among the selected glasses, C4 has the largest values of μρ and lowest half value layer, and therefore this glass sample has better shielding features than other samples. Besides, 3—1 glass sample has the lowest values; therefore this sample has the least ability to block and reduce the incoming gamma radiation. The results also showed that the effective atomic number (Zeff) of the glasses in the first composition increased with increasing the content of Cr2O3, and Zeff in the second glass system (i.e. NAS) increased with increasing the Al2O3 content. The values of mass removal cross section for neutron (ΣR) vary between 0.09112 and 0.09163 and 0.08415–0.08710 for the first and second glass system respectively. The obtained results from the present investigation can be useful to understanding of influence of Cr2O3 and Al2O3 additive on nuclear radiation shielding properties of tellurite MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3 and Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses.