Investigation on radiation shielding potentials of barium calcium aluminosilicate glass material using silicon carbide nanotubes reinforcement

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 225; p. 112158
• Main Authors: Itas, Yahaya Saadu, Albaqami, Munirah D., Mohammad, Saikh, Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin, Mohammad, M.R., Haldhar, Rajesh, Hossain, M. Khalid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Gamma rays; Half value layer; Linear attenuation coefficient; Mean free path; Radiation shielding; Gamma rays; Linear attenuation coefficient; Radiation shielding; Mean free path; Half value layer
• ISSN: 0969-806X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2024.112158

This work investigated the gamma ray attenuation power of barium calcium aluminosilicate glass by using silicon carbide nanotube modifiers. Shielding efficiency of BaO–15CaO–5Al2O3–10B2O3–35SiO2 was investigated by adding different concentrations of silicon carbide nanotubes (10, 15, 20, 25 mol %). Amorphous and fine characteristics of the prepared glass materials were analyzed using XRD and FTIR techniques. In the results obtained, absence of sharp peaks in the XRD pattern revealed that the prepared glass was amorphous. Analysis of the radiation shielding properties was tested against gamma radiation by using PHY-X/PSD software. Various shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path, and effective atomic number were determined to access the radiation shielding strength of the prepared samples. From the obtained results, composites of barium calcium aluminosilicate and silicon carbide nanotubes (sample 1) with higher values of mass attenuation coefficient (32.92 cm2/g) and effective atomic number (52.02) provided superior gamma ray attenuation. Results also revealed that the density and chemical composition of the prepared glass samples strongly influence photon interactions and weakly influence electronic interactions during the photon attenuation process. The results demonstrated that increasing the weight fractions of silicon carbide nanotubes in the glass samples increases the shielding properties. •The incorporation of SiCNT into BCAS glass enhanced the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC).•XRD analysis revealed the disordered BCAS/SiCNT glass structure with an average crystalline size of 9.7 nm.•Results show that BCAS/SiCNT exhibited the best gamma ray attenuation, with a high MAC of 32.92 cm2/g and effective atomic number (Zeff) of 52.02•The study demonstrated how density and chemical composition of SiCNT influence the gamma ray shielding efficiency of BCAS/SiCNT glass.•Variations of MAC with photon energy from 20 KeV to 42 KeV were attributed to dominant photoelectric effect.