In Silicon Monte Carlo Simulation Trials for Investigation of V2O5 Reinforcement Effect on Ternary Zinc Borate Glasses: Nuclear Radiation Shielding Dynamics

Abstract

In the current study, promising glass composites based on vanadium pentoxide (V2O5)‐ doped zinc borate (ZnB) were investigated in terms of their nuclear‐radiation‐shielding dynamics. The mass and linear attenuation coefficient, half‐value layer, mean free path, tenth‐value layer, effective atomic number, exposure‐buildup factor, and energy‐absorption‐buildup factor were deeply simulated by using MCNPX code, Phy‐X PSD code, and WinXcom to study the validation of ZBV1, ZBV2, ZBV3, and ZBV4 based on (100−x)(0.6ZnO‐0.4B2O3)(x)(V2O5) (x = 1, 2, 3, 4 mol%) samples against ionizing radiation. The results showed that attenuation competencies of the studied glasses slightly changed while increasing the V2O5 content from 1 mol% to 4 mol%. The domination of ZnO concentration in the composition compared to B2O3 makes ZnO substitution with V2O5 more dominant, leading to a decrease in density. Since density has a significant role in the attenuation of gamma rays, a negative effect was observed. It can be concluded that the aforementioned substitution can negatively affect the shielding competencies of studied glasses.