Radiation shielding and energy absorption parameters of SiO2–Na2O–Al2O3- CaO-CaF2 silicate glasses

Abstract

Glasses with nominal compositions of (68-x) SiO₂–25Na₂O–2Al₂O₃- xCaO-5CaF₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 20, representing SiNAlCF1, SiNAlCF2, SiNAlCF3, and SiNAlCF4, respectively) were reported for their gamma-photon shielding and dosimetry functions using theoretical calculations starting with the use of the NIST cross-section library. Several parameters (including the mass attenuation (MAC) and energy absorption coefficient (MEAC), effective atomic number and electron density (Z_eff and N_eff), gamma exposure constant (Γ), exposure rate (D_r) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) among others) were estimated for energies within 0.015–15 MeV. The range of MAC for SiNAlCF1, SiNAlCF2, SiNAlCF3, and SiNAlCF4 is 0.0208–5.9944, 0.0210–6.7179, 0 0.0212–7.4460, and 0.0217–8.9164 cm²/g, respectively. The values of Z_eff and N_eff vary within the ranges 10.13–12.74 and 2.98–3.74 (10²³ electron/g) for SiNAlCF1, 10.27–13.42 and 2.98–3.89 (10²³ electron/g) for SiNAlCF2, 10.41–14.03 and 2.98–4.01 (10²³ electron/g) for SiNAlCF3, and 10.71–15.07 and 2.98–4.19 (10²³ electron/g) for SiNAlCF4. The glass with the higher CaO content interacts more with gamma rays and attenuates and absorbs photons better. For 15 mm thick SiNAlCF1-SiNAlCF4, D_r is about 3.66, 4.10, 4.56, and 5.47 MR/h, respectively. The addition of CaO thus improves the shielding efficacy of the SiNAlCF glasses in the narrow and broad beam geometry situations. The SiNAlCF glasses, in comparison to some conventional and recently recommended glass shields, contain nontoxic component, are cheaper, and effective (especially at higher gamma-photon energies). they are thus recommended for gamma-ray protection applications in narrow and broad beam shielding scenarios.