Radiation attenuation, dose rate and buildup factors of gallium silicate glass system for nuclear shielding applications

This paper investigates the radiation attenuation density independent parameters of gallium silicate glass system containing three other oxides namely SrCO3, Nb2O5, and Dy2O3. The theoretical results of the mass attenuation factor (μm) for the chemical composition for each studied specimen are directly obtained through NIST database with the XCOM program. Based on the values of MAC, we calculate different parameters, that are density independent, such as effective atomic number (Zeff). Furthermore, different density independent factors, such as equivalent atomic number (Zeq), specific gamma ray constant (Γ), gamma dose rate (Dr) and buildup factors are determined for gallium silicate glass system containing SrCO3, Nb2O5, and Dy2O3. It is found that the μm values of the SSNGD-C glass with 6 mol% of Dy2O3 content are the highest whereas they are the lowest for SSNGD-A with 2 mol% of Dy2O3 content. The Zeq is maximum at 0.8 MeV and it is minimum at 0.015 MeV. This factor, Zeq, increases with increment of Dy2O3. The nuclear shielding ability and performance of the studied glassy system show a high and acceptance performance as compared to several commercial systems that suggested previously as reliable sidelining against radiation.