Repercussions of yttrium oxides on radiation shielding capacity of sodium-silicate glass system: experimental and Monte Carlo simulation study

Five glass samples with composition 37.5 Na2O+(61.1-x) SiO2+xY(2)O(3), x=1, 2, 5, 5.7 and 6 mol% were synthesized using the melting methods at temperatures varying between 1400 and 1500 degrees C, depending on the Y2O3 insertion ratio. The synthesized glasses density was measured using the Archimedes method. Moreover, the linear attenuation coefficient was measured experimentally using the gamma-ray transmission method with NaI (Tl) crystal and radio-isotopes C-137 and Co-60. The mass attenuation coefficient was calculated based on the experimental linear attenuation coefficient and confirmed using the Monte Carlo simulation MCNP-5 code and XCOM program. The gamma-ray shielding capacity was enhanced with the replacement of SiO2 by Y2O3. The LAC at energy 0.662 MeV varied in the range between 0.201 and 0.232 cm(-1), increasing the Y2O3 insertion ratio between 1 and 6 mol%, respectively. The fast neutron effective removal cross section Sigma (R) (cm(2)/g) was also evaluated theoretically for the fabricated glass samples. The computed Sigma (R) values decreased linearly with the Y2O3 content.

Automated summary

In this study, five glass samples with varying compositions were synthesized using melting methods and their attenuation coefficients were measured experimentally. The results showed that replacing SiO2 with Y2O3 can enhance the gamma-ray shielding capacity of the glasses. Additionally, the mass attenuation coefficient and neutron removal cross section both decreased linearly with increasing Y2O3 content in the glass samples.