Heavy metal borate glasses: Potential use for radiation shielding

Heavy metal oxide borate (HMOB) glasses were studied for gamma, fast neutron and charged particle interaction using mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), effective atomic numbers (Z(eff)), buildup factors, fast neutron removal cross sections and ranges. The experimental values of MACs were verified by MCNP simulation at 662 keV. Also, HMOB glasses were compared to concretes and lead glass. HMOB glass systems were found to have better shielding properties than ordinary and hematite-serpentine concretes. Fly ash glass showed superior shielding than lead glasses in specific energy regions. The bismuth borate glass was found to have better shielding properties than the steel-magnetite concrete in different energy regions and showed superior shielding than lead glass in the entire energy region. Also, bismuth borate glass showed better fast neutron shielding than concretes and glasses while fly ash glass has almost the same fast neutron shielding properties with ordinary and hematite-serpentine concretes. The energy loss and radiation damage simulation showed that more replacement collisions, thus radiation damage would occur in ordinary and steel-magnetite concretes. It can be concluded that the lead free HMOB glasses have the potential for use as alternative shielding materials not only for gamma and fast neutrons but also for heavy ions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.