Nuclear shielding properties of B2O3–Bi2O3–SrO glasses modified with Nd2O3: Theoretical and simulation studies
Introduction
In the area of nuclear protection, applicable materials that are applied as ionizing radiation shields necessary to have some properties such as transparency at normal room temperature (NRT), stiffness, non-harsh, non-harmless, thermal stability, and environmentally local [1]. Therefore, the usage of glass materials as radiation defenses has been made interesting and charismatic due to their sole characteristics compared to traditional shielding tools like polymers, rocks, and concrete [[2], [3], [4]].
According to modern technology, several glass systems have been used for alpha, proton, and gamma-ray absorption in X-ray examination rooms in nuclear facilities across the world, security X-ray checking room in airports, and in hospitals [5]. Consequently, different glass systems would have to be suggested, preparation, and investigated for their protection potentials. Therefore, glasses have been placed in the right position among the other materials that are used as a radiation shield due to their unique kinetics, electrical, thermal, and optical features [[6], [7], [8], [9]].
Phosphate, silicate, tellurite, borate-based glass systems are commonly used in several areas [[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]]. Borate-based glasses are described by evident properties that make them more suitable for many applications such as optical and laser devices [17]. Many authors reported that the addition of alkaline earth oxides as modifiers such as BaO and SrO [2], transition metal oxides like ZnO and Cr2O3 [3], alkali oxides such as Na2O and Li2O [1], heavy metal oxides like Bi2O and/or PbO [3,4], rare earth oxides such as Sm2O3, Gd2O3, Nd2O3, etc. [5]. to glass compositions have been improved their linear and nonlinear optical, thermal, radiation shielding features [[18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26]].
In order to evaluate the efficiency of using a material as a shield for neutron and photons (gamma- and X rays), some effective radiation shielding parameters must be investigated such as the MAC and LAC, Zeff, MFP, HVL, and fast neutron cross section [[22], [23], [24], [25]].
The aim of this study is to evaluate both gamma-ray and thermal/fast neutron protection capacity of strontium bismo-borate glasses doped with Nd3+ ions. Geant4 simulation code was utilized to mimic all the required conditions for gamma-ray transmission through the investigated glasses. Moreover, the thermal neutron shielding study was achieved by evaluating the scattering lengths, absorption cross sections, and scattering cross sections. The fast neutron shielding study was described by using the removal cross sections. The effect of Nd3+ ions on the gamma-ray and neutron shielding capacity was explained in detail. Finally, the gamma-ray shielding capacity of the present glasses was compared with several shielding materials.
Section snippets
BBSN0.0 – BBSN5.7 glasses
Six samples of strontium bismo-borate glasses co-doped with neodymium Nd3+ ions with the form B2O3–Bi2O3–SrO-Nd2O3 glasses were chosen from Ref. [26]. The investigated samples were coded as:BBSN0.0: 50B2O3–30Bi2O3–20SrO-0.0Nd2O3BBSN1.0: 49.5B2O3-29.7Bi2O3-19.8SrO-1.0Nd2O3BBSN2.0: 49B2O3-29.4Bi2O3-19.6SrO-2.0Nd2O3BBSN3.0: 48.5B2O3-29.1Bi2O3-19.4SrO-3.0Nd2O3BBSN4.3: 47.9B2O3-28.7Bi2O3-19.1SrO-4.3Nd2O3BBSN5.7: 47.2B2O3-28.3Bi2O3-18.8SrO-5.7Nd2O3
Samples code, molar fraction, weight fraction, and
Results and discussion
The photon shielding attenuation parameters for five strontium bismo-borate glasses doped with neodymium as well as the un-doped glass sample (B2O3–Bi2O3–SrO-Nd2O3) have been investigated in the wide range of photon energies at 0.015–15 MeV via two calculation methods; by Monte Carlo study through Geant4 code and; theoretical calculations regarding to the Phy-X/PSD program. The relative deviations have been calculated and listed in Table 2, Table 3. It was found that there is a compatible
Conclusion
In the present study, the capacity of strontium bismo-borate glasses doped with different concentrations of Nd2O3 content with the form B2O3–Bi2O3–SrO-Nd2O3 as ionizing radiation and neutron shielding was investigated. This aim was achieved by evaluation several of radiation shielding parameters of the proposed glasses (BBSN0.0-BBSN5.7) via Phy-X/PSD software and Geant4 simulation code. The obtained results concluded that at low photon energy (0.015 MeV), MAC values varied from 76.72, 76.57,
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgments
The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for the financial support through research groups program under grant number (R.G.P.2/97/41).
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