Study of comprehensive shielding behaviors of chambersite deposit for neutron and gamma ray

Comprehensive shielding behaviors of chambersite deposit in China for neutron and gamma ray were systematically analyzed for the first time. Monte-Carlo method simulation technique, American Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF/B-VIII.0), XCOM program and Phy-X/PSD program were used to perform the analysis. Transmission against different neutron resources and cross section for neutrons, mass attenuation coefficient, half value thickness, effective atomic number and electron density for narrow beam gamma ray at 0.001-100000 MeV, and equivalent atomic number, G-P Fitting Parameters, exposure buildup factors and energy absorption buildup factors against wide beam gamma ray for penetration depths up to 40mfp at 0.015-15 MeV were obtained. Shielding performance of chambersite deposit is excellent for high energy and low energy neutrons because of Mn and B respectively, and better than SWX-210. Shielding ability for gamma ray dependent on the element with high-Z or higher content and is between steel-magnetite concrete and ilmenite concrete. The shielding performance for both thermal neutron and gamma ray of the prepared sample is better than SWX-201 and SWX-261. Thus chambersite deposit will be an excellent shielding raw material for both gamma ray and neutron, also combining it with hydrogen rich materials can improve its attenuation properties and expand its possible uses.

Automated summary

The comprehensive shielding behaviors of chambersite deposit in China for neutron and gamma ray were systematically analyzed for the first time. The results showed that the chambersite deposit has excellent shielding performance for high energy and low energy neutrons, and its gamma ray shielding ability is between steel-magnetite concrete and ilmenite concrete. The prepared sample of chambersite deposit has better shielding performance for both thermal neutron and gamma ray compared to other materials.