Monte Carlo simulations and phy-X/PSD study of radiation shielding and elastic effects of molybdenum and tungsten in phosphate glasses

Abstract

The mechanical and shielding characteristics of (100 − x)% NaPO3−x% MoO3 (where x = 20,40,60) and (100-x)% NaPO3-x% WO3 (where x = 20,40,60) glass systems were studied to evaluate their ability to act as shielding materials. Using the Makishima-Mackenzie theory, the mechanical parameters of all glass samples and their dependence on the MoO3 content (mol%) for the first series and on the WO3 content (mol%) forthe second glass series were also investigated. The results showed thatthe mechanical properties and micro hardness were significantly enhanced by increasing the concentration of MoO3 from 20 to 60% for the first glass series and the concentration of WO3 from 20 to 60% for the second glass series. The shielding parameters of both glass series were also studied. The mass attenuation coefficient (μm) was computed by the Phy-X/PSD program for energies ranging from 0.015 to 15 MeV. The results are in excellent agreementwith the results calculated by the WinXCom software program and the results simulated by Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation. The computed μm values were used to deduce the other significant shielding parameters for all glass samples. The fast neutron removal cross-sections of all glass samples were examined and compared with those of standard materials. A strong correlation between the shielding parameters and the molar volume, oxygen packing density, and oxygen molar volume was found. The results revealed that thestudied glasses possessed superior shielding properties, especially the glass sample 0.4NaPO3-0.6MoO3 (mol%) which showed the most promising characteristics for radiation-shielding applications among the tested glasses.