Effect of Sb2O3 addition on radiation attenuation properties of tellurite glasses containing V2O5 and Nb2O5

In the present work, we have studied the effect of Sb2O3 addition on gamma, neutron, and charged particles attenuation properties of tellurite glasses in the chemical structure of 84TeO(2)+xSb(2)O(3)+1V(2)O(5)+(15-x)Nb2O5, where x is between 0 and 15 mol% with step of 5. Monte Carlo simulations (by using FLUKA code) were employed to investigate the gamma attenuation parameters for photon energies of 0.6, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, and 10 meV. For every photon energy, the results of FLUKA simulations were theoretically approved using the XCOM approach. The obtained results show that the Sb2O3 addition increased the mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) ranges from 0.03318 to 0.08003, 0.03334-0.08021, 0.03349-0.08038, and 0.03363-0.08054 cm(2) g(-1) for TSVN1, TSVN2, TSVN3, and TSVN4, respectively. For the studied glasses, the maximum (minimum) effective atomic number (Z(eff)) was obtained at 10 meV (1.25 meV) with corresponding values of 28.85 (21.58), 29.80 (22.27), 30.77 (23.00), and 31.78 (23.77). The exposure rate (ER) follows the trend: (ER)(TSVN4)>(ER)(TSVN3)>(ER)(TSVN2)>(ER)(TSVN1). Different effects of Sb2O3 addition were observed on the shielding properties for the thermal and fast neutrons. Finally, the influences of Sb2O3 addition on the attenuation features of the studied glasses were discussed in detail for charged particles such as protons, alpha particles, and electrons. It is concluded that the investigated glass specimens can be utilized for various nuclear applications as non-toxic shields against the radiation of gamma, neutron, and charged particles.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of Sb2O3 on the attenuation properties of tellurite glasses, showing an increase in mass attenuation coefficient with Sb2O3 addition. The maximum and minimum effective atomic numbers were obtained at specific photon energies, and the exposure rate followed a specific trend. Different effects of Sb2O3 addition on shielding properties for thermal and fast neutrons were observed, and detailed discussions on the attenuation features for charged particles were provided. It was concluded that the studied glass specimens could be utilized as non-toxic shields against gamma, neutron, and charged particle radiation in various nuclear applications.