A broad analysis of directly and indirectly ionizing radiation interaction parameters of PbF2-CaF2-Bi2O3-B2O3-Cr2O3 glass system

This study presents the shielding parameters for directly and indirectly ionization radiations of PCBBC glasses with the chemical composition: xPbF(2)-(25-x)CaF2-49.8B(2)O(3)-25Bi(2)O(3)-0.2Cr(2)O(3) and coded as PCBBC1-PCBBC4 for x = 0, 5,15, and 25 mol. %, respectively. Photon shielding coefficients were estimated by Monte Carlo simulation method via FLUKA code and by XCOM calculations for energies ranging from 0.1-10 MeV. In addition, the total stopping powers (TSP) and projected range (R) of electron (e(-1)), proton (p(+)), alpha particle (alpha), and carbon ion (C+)) were used to investigate the shielding ability of the glasses against charged particles while fast Sigma(R) and thermal sigma(T) neutron cross sections were also estimated for the investigated glasses. For PCBBC1-PCBBC4, the photon linear (mass) attenuation coefficient varies from 16.346 (3.571)-0.170 (0.037), 17.151 (3.723)-0.173 (0.038), 20.128 (3.987)-0.194 (0.038), and 22.972 (4.(2)09)-0.213 cm(-1) (0.039 cm(2) g(-1)) respectively. At 10 MeV, the half value layer was 3.879, 3.782, 3.343, and 3.013 cm corresponding to PbF2 molar content increase from 0%-25% in the PCBBC glasses. Generally, effective atomic number (electron density) Z(eff) (N-eff) vary with energy within the range of 18.49 -71.75 (2.93-11.37), 19.35-72.68 (2.92-10.98), 21.04-74.18 (2.91-10.25), and 22.70-75.34 (2.89-9.600 N-A electrons/g). values of TSP and R follow the order: PCBBC1 > PCBBC2 > PCBBC3 > PCBBC4. Sigma(R) changed from 0.09989-0.10358 cm(-1) with PCBBC4 having the maximum value while o T grew from 95(.1) 4954-113.45969 cm(-1) for PCBBC1-PCBBC4 respectively. Compared to conventional glass shields PCBBC4 glass possesses superior shielding ability and it is a potential material for radiation shielding applications in emerging radiation-based technology.

Automated summary

This study presents the shielding parameters of PCBBC glasses for ionization radiations and charged particles, and finds that PCBBC4 glass has superior shielding ability and can be used for radiation shielding applications.