P2O5–Pb3O4–ZnO–Li2CO3–CuO glasses and their radiation attenuation properties for shielding applications

Abstract

The use of lead as a radiation shield is becoming unpopular due to toxicity concern. Glasses are promising alternatives for eliminating this problem. This study is thus aimed at ascertaining the shielding efficacy of a newly developed glass system against gamma-ray, charged particle, fast, and thermal neutrons. The radiation shielding parameters of the novel PPZLC glass system were theoretically calculated and analysed. The chemical structure of the PPZLC glasses is 65P₂O₅–10Pb₃O₄–5ZnO–(20–x)Li₂CO₃–xCuO where x = 0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0 mol% represents PPZLC1, PPZLC2, PPZLC3 and PPZLC4 glasses respectively. The gamma-ray mass attenuation coefficient MAC of the glasses for 0.1–10 MeV photons was calculated by FLUKA simulation and XCOM software. Calculated MAC values varied from 2.025 to 0.031, 2.027 to 0.032, 2.029 to 0.032 and 2.027 to 0.032 cm²/g in the order of PPZLC1-4. Analysis of other photon shielding parameters such as half value layer and mean free path showed that the increase in the concentration of CuO improved the shielding ability of the glasses against photons. Similarly, the trend of projected range of electrons, protons, α-particles and carbon ions showed the absorption capacity of charged particles in the glasses increased from PPZLC1-4. Furthermore, the fast neutron removal cross section increased considerably from 0.1006 to 0.1038 cm⁻¹ for CuO molar concentration increase of 0–1.0 mol%. However, the reduction in the molar concentration of Li₂CO₃ led to the decline of absorption and total cross section for thermal neutrons in the glasses. Comparing the photon and neutron absorbing capacity of the PPZLC1-4 glasses with common shielding materials, it was observed that the present glasses have potential to function well in radiation absorbing or collimating applications. They can thus be recommended for use as radiation shields in medical and industrial application of photons coupled with fast neutrons, storage for radioactive materials and other related functions.