Gamma, neutron, and charged particle shielding performance of ABKT glass system

Abstract

In this study, the gamma, charged, thermal neutron, and fast neutron radiation shielding parameters of (5+x)K2O-(25-x)TeO2-(10-x)As2O3-(60-x)B2O3 (where x ranged from 0 (ABKT1) to 20 (ABKT5) mol% in 5 mol% steps) were calculated and simulated. In addition, important optical parameters such as the reflection loss (Rloss), molar refractivity (Rm), molar polarizability (αm), optical transmission (TOpt), metallization criterion (M(n)), static dielectric constant (Ɛsta), optical dielectric constant (Ɛopt) of the glasses, were computed and juxtaposed with the chemical composition of the glasses. The values of Rm and αm decreased from 17.213 cm3/mol to 15.247 cm3/mol and 6.830 x10−24 cm3 to 6.05 x10−24 cm3, respectively, as K2O replaced TeO2 in the ABTK glass system. Similarly, Rloss reduced from 0.173 to 0.164, while TOpt increased from 0.705 to 0.719. The values of M(n), εsta, and εOpt were in the range 0.381–0.397, 5.565–5.87, and 4.565–4.871, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficients of ABKT1–ABKT5 were within the range of 0.0276–30.8789, 0.0269–29.6485, 0.0262–28.3373, 0.0255–29.9370, and 0.0249–25.4384 cm2/g, respectively. ABKT1 is the best gamma photon absorber among the ABKT glasses for narrow and broad beam transmission modes. For electrons, protons, alpha particles, and heavy carbon ions, the mass stopping powers of the glasses follow the order ABKT1>ABKT2>ABKT3>ABKT4>ABKT5. ABKT1 had the best photon and ion absorbing capabilities, while ABKT5 has the highest thermal and fast neutron interaction cross-sections. The ABKT1 glass demonstrated the potential to perform better than some commercial glass shields, standard shielding glasses, light and heavy concretes, and a host of other materials as a transparent gamma radiation shielding material.