Effect of BaO on some radiation shielding parameters of recycling waste soda lime silica glasses system

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of BaO as an additive on various radiation shielding parameters for recycled waste soda-lime silica glass (WSLSG) composites. Experimental gamma-ray attenuation measurements were performed using ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co sources and BaO_(x) [0.2Bi₂O₃-0.3ZnO-0.2B₂O₃-0.3SLS]_(1-x) glass composites (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05 mol%) with a NaI(Tl) detector. Additionally, theoretical validation of gamma-ray shielding effectiveness was carried out using the EpiXS and Phy-X/PSD programs over a wide gamma-ray energy range (0.015–15 MeV). Key parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (Z_eff), effective electron density (N_eff), transmission factor (TF), and gamma-ray dose rate (Dr) were calculated. For a fixed sample thickness and incident gamma-ray energy, the descending order of TF for the glass samples was determined as: ${TF}_{{BaO}_1}>{TF}_{{BaO}_2}>{TF}_{{BaO}_3}>{TF}_{{BaO}_4}>{TF}_{{BaO}_5}$. Furthermore, the fast neutron removal cross section (FNRCS) at 4.5 MeV and the macroscopic removal cross section (MRCS) for fast neutrons were evaluated using Phy-X/PSD and MRCScal software, respectively. The total macroscopic cross section for thermal neutrons (Σ_th) and TF for fast/thermal neutrons (4 MeV/25.4 meV) were also computed using NGcal and transmission/scatter power software. Results indicated that both FNRCS and MRCS increased with BaO mole %. Additionally, the range (R) and total stopping power (TSP) for selected ions were simulated using SRIM Monte Carlo software over a broad energy range (0.01–20 MeV). The TSP and continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) range for electron interactions were deduced using the ESTAR NIST program across an electron energy range of 0.01–1000 MeV.