Effect of the samarium on the mechanical and radiation shielding capabilities of lead-free zinc-borate-lithium glasses

Abstract

By doping Sm2O3 with concentrations ranging from 1% to 4%, lead-free zinc-borate-lithium glasses have been synthesized and calculated the mechanical and radiation shielding properties. Using the Phy-X/PSD software, the gamma ray interaction parameters such as the mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, mean free path, equivalent atomic number, exposure buildup factor, and energy absorption buildup factor were computed. The selected glass with a 4% mole concentration of Sm2O3 exhibits reduced exposure buildup factor and energy absorption buildup factor values. Compared to regular concrete and RS-253-G18, the mean free path values for selected glasses indicate lower values. The ZBLS0 has the highest fast neutron removal cross section among the chosen glasses, and it exhibits greater values than regular concrete and water. The mechanical properties were also calculated and found that the Young’s modulus decreases from 33.821 to 33.581 GPa, longitudinal modulus from 37.210 to 36.479 GPa. The bulk modulus from 18.292 to 17.514 GPa, but the shear modulus increases from 14.189 to 14.224 GPa. The results show that lead-free zinc-borate-lithium glasses with Sm2O3 doped with concentrations ranging from 1% to 4%, can be used in nuclear reactors and other nuclear equipment to filter gamma rays and neutrons.