The Investigation Optical, X/γ-Rays and Neutrons Shielding Properties of BaO Based on Steel Slag Glass System

AbstractFor BaO based on steel slag glass system (BaSSG) in chemical composition (50-x)B2O3: 20steel slag: 20Na2O: 10CaO: xBaO (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 wt%) were prepared by melt quenching technique at 1,200 °C and investigated optical, X/γ-rays, fast and thermal neutrons shielding properties. The optical properties were measured and explained on transmission (T%) value. The X/γ-rays shielding properties were experimented with and explained on mass attenuation coefficients (µm) for X-rays which were measured using a high-frequency digital X-rays machine while γ-rays were measured using the narrow beam transmission method. In addition, half value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP) and transmission factor (TF) values were evaluated and discussed. Also, fast and thermal neutron shielding properties of BaSSG have been evaluated and discussed. The results found that the BaSSG6 glass sample had the highest T% and µm values, while HVL, MFP and TF were the lowest. These results indicated that the BaSSG6 glass sample offers excellent X/γ-rays and fast neutron shielding compared to other samples. Whereas the BaSSG1 glass sample provided superb thermal neutron shielding. These reflected that the BaSSG glass system had the potential to develop transparent and Pb-free shielding material.Keywords: Steel slag glassX/γ-rays shieldingfast and thermal neutrons Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis research is financially supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) (Fiscal Year 2022).