Effect of Bi 2 O 3 content on mechanical and nuclear radiation shielding properties of Bi 2 O 3 -MoO 3 -B 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -Na 2 O-Fe 2 O 3 glass system

Abstract

The melt quench method has been used to prepare the xBi 2 O 3 -(30-x)MoO 3 -40B 2 O 3 -20SiO 2 -9Na 2 O-1Fe 2 O 3 glass system, where x = 15, 17.5, 20, 25 and 30 mol. %. In the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV, the mass attenuation coefficient (μ m ), half value layer (HVL) and effective atomic number (Z eff ) values have been calculated using MCNPX code for prepared glasses. Using the Geometric progression (G–P) fitting method the exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) have been computed. In addition, the removal cross-section (Σ R ) values for fast neutrons have been evaluated. Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficient for different compositions glasses have been calculated using XMuDat program and XCOM and have been compared with MCNPX values. The μ m , HVL and Σ R values of the investigated glass samples have been compared with the different types of concretes in other glass materials. Using the pulse-echo technique, the elastic moduli for glass samples have been measured. The glass sample 30Bi 2 O 3 -40B 2 O 3 -20SiO 2 -9Na 2 O-1Fe 2 O 3 shows the highest values of μ m and lowest values of HVL, which indicate that this glass composition is the most effective at radiation shielding.