An extensive study on the neutron-gamma shielding and mass stopping power of (70-x) CRT–30K2O–xBaO glass system for 252Cf neutron source

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study focuses on the charged-uncharged particles shielding performance of the addition of a mixed type of cathode ray tube (CRT) in a glass system that is irradiated by the 252Cf neutron source via the MCNPX simulation and analytical calculations, as well as Phy-X: PSD and SRIM software. The CRT waste glass is inserted into the glass system with (70-x) CRT–30K2O–xBaO general formula for x = 0, 10, 20 mol% that produces CG1, CG2, and CG3 glass shielding materials. Using Watt Fission Distribution (WFD) and Doppler Effect (DE) the neutron-gamma photon spectra were extracted for shielded (in the presence of the glass materials) and unshielded (in air) cases. Some calculated attenuation parameters related to the neutron deduced that CG1 is the best neutron attenuator among the selected glass samples. Moreover, by increasing the density of the glass from CG1 to CG3, the ascending trend is observed for the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC, cm−1) of the studied glass, and the best shielding competence is monitored for CG3. Furthermore, two sharp peaks are found in Zeff graphs which may be due to K-edge absorption of Ba and Pb elements and by decreasing the Pb element from CG1 to CG3 the second peak gradually becomes smooth. In addition, Mass Stopping Power/ Projected Ranges of the proton (H1) and alpha particles (He+2) are also estimated by SRIM code and findings show that CG1 can better stop proton and alpha particles in comparison with the other chosen glass structures.