Shielding efficiency of lead borate and nickel borate glasses for gamma rays and neutrons

Gamma ray exposure buildup factor (EBF) and neutron shielding efficiency of borate glass systems in composition (100 − x − y) Na2B4O7−xPbO−yNiO (where x and y = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weight percentage) were investigated in the present study. Gamma ray EBF values were computed using Geometric Progression (G-P) method for photon energy 0.015 to 15 MeV up to penetration depths of 40 mfp (mean free path). The macroscopic effective removal cross-sections (Σ R ) for fast neutron (2 to 12 MeV) were calculated. At low- and high-energy region, the EBF values were found minimum whereas maximum in the intermediate-energy regions with a sharp peak below 100 keV for oxide containing glass samples. The investigation was carried out for potential applications of borate glasses for radiation shielding.