Fast Neutron and Gamma-Ray Attenuation Properties of Some HMO Tellurite-Tungstate-Antimonate Glasses: Impact of Sm3+ Ions

Ghada Almisned,Heba A Saudi,Huseyin O Tekin,Merfat Algethami,Antoaneta Ene,Gokhan Kilic,Hesham M H Zakaly,Shams A M Issa

doi:10.3390/app112110168

Abstract

Characteristics of tellurite-tungstate-antimonate glasses containing heavy metal oxide were investigated in detail using two methods: the MCNPX Monte Carlo code and the Phy-X/PSD platform. The influence of Sm2O3, translocating with TeO2 at ratios of 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1, and 1.5 mol% on radiation shielding properties of glasses, was set forth with five glass structures determined according to the (75-x)TeO2-15Sb2O3-10WO3-xSm2O3 glass composition. Densities of the glasses were prepared by doping a low ratio of Sm2O3 that varied between 5.834 and 5.898 g/cm3. Sample densities, which have an important role in determining radiation shielding character, increased depending on the increase in Sm2O3 concentration. Effective removal cross-section (∑R) values against fast neutrons, as well as linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layer, mean free path, variation of effective atomic number against photon energy, exposure, and energy built-up factors, were simulated with the help of these two methods. As a result of these estimates, it can be concluded that values obtained using both methods are consistent with each other. From the obtained values, it can be concluded that the SM1.5 sample containing 1.5 mol% would have the most efficient role in radiation shielding. An increase of Sm2O3 resulted in a significant increase in linear and mass attenuation coefficients and effective removal cross-section values belonging to fast neutrons and, in addition, resulted in a decrease in the half value layer. Doping HMO glasses with Sm2O3 was observed to contribute directly to the development of radiation shielding properties of the glass.

Highlights

Among the many kinds of glasses, heavy metal oxide (HMO) glasses have garnered considerable attention recently due to their low-phonon properties [1,2]
Our results indicate that the SM1.5 sample exhibits the highest linear attenuation coefficients throughout the whole energy range
Our results indicate that SM1.5 has the lowest accumulation factors in both exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF)

Summary

Introduction

Among the many kinds of glasses, heavy metal oxide (HMO) glasses have garnered considerable attention recently due to their low-phonon properties [1,2]. TeO2 , Sb2 O3 , Bi2 O3 , and PbO are all known representatives of the HMO glass family These glasses are superior photonic matrices due to their wider transparency interval spanning the visible to the mid-infrared range, improved non-linear optical features, the high solubility of rare-earth ions, and lower phonon energies than phosphate borate glasses and silicate glasses. Besides their outstanding thermal, mechanical, and chemical resistance, heavy metal oxide glasses have exceptional optical and electrical properties, including a high refractive index and dielectric constant. Our research established that these two glass samples are comparable as they had the highest TeO2 ratio in their structure

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