Tm3+ ions-doped phosphate glasses: nuclear shielding competence and elastic moduli

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 126; no. 12
• Main Authors: Rammah, Y. S., Mahmoud, K. A., El-Agawany, F. I., Tashlykov, O. L., Yousef, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Applied physics; Bulk modulus; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Gamma rays; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Modulus of elasticity; Nanotechnology; Neutrons; Optical and Electronic Materials; Penetration depth; Phosphate glass; Photons; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Poisson's ratio; Processes; Radiation shielding; Shear modulus; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Elastic moduli; MCNP-5 simulation; Shielding; Photon; Neutron
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-020-04109-w

Photon and neutron shielding factors and elastic moduli of phosphate glass doped with Tm 3+ ions (abbreviated as PPKANT glasses) have been analyzed. MCNP-5 simulation code, and Phy-X/PSD software have been utilized to estimate the gamma rays and neutron shielding capacity. Furthermore, Makishima and Mackenzie’s theory has been performed to calculate elastic moduli. Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, and shear modulus have been varied from 40.71 to 43.62 GPa, 28.01 to 30.65 GPa, and 16.18 to 17.27 GPa, respectively. Poisson’s ratio changed from 0.257 for PPKANT0.1 glass to 0.263 for PPKANT4 glass. At low gamma photon energy (0.015 meV), the LAC increased with the increase of Tm 3+ content (LAC = 155.54 and 170.18 cm −1 for glass samples PPKANT0.1 and PPKANT4, respectively). At high energy (15 MeV), the LAC changed from 0.118 to 0.124 cm −1 for PPKANT0.1 to PPKANT4. The highest values of the HVL decreased from 5.734 to 5.570 cm. The trend of MFP was like the HVL trend. At 15 MeV, the values of the EBF and EABF were rapidly increased with the increase in the penetration depth (PD), especially for PD > 20 mfp. The lowest ∑ R was achieved for glasses PPKANT4 with 4 mol % Tm 2 O 3, where ∑ R  = 0.02561 cm 2 g −1 . The investigated PPKANT glasses can be considered good neutron and photon shields compared to some traditional radiation shielding materials.