Investigation of gamma-rays and fast neutrons attenuation parameters for NixCo1-xFe2O4 nickel ferrites

• Published in: Progress in nuclear energy (New series) Vol. 148; p. 104213
• Main Authors: Mansy, Muhammad S., Desoky, W.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Atomic properties; Attenuation coefficients; Chemical precipitation; Chemical synthesis; Effective removal cross-section; Fast neutrons; Ferrite micro and nanoparticles; Ferrites; Gamma rays; half-value layer; Mass and linear attenuation coefficients; Mathematical analysis; Neutrons; Nickel; Nickel ferrites; Nuclear cross sections; Parameters; Radiation shielding; shielding parameters; Effective removal cross-section; Mass and linear attenuation coefficients; shielding parameters; half-value layer; Ferrite micro and nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0149-1970; 1878-4224
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104213

The present work aims to study the radiation shielding parameters of new composite nickel ferrites in micro and nano-size. Synthesis of nickel-nano ferrites was carried out using the chemical co-precipitation technique. The measurement of gamma shielding parameters for nano-sized nickel ferrites was done experimentally. In addition, the calculations of the shielding parameters for the micro-sized nickel ferrites were carried out using FLUKA-Monte Carlo and WinXCom software. The shielding parameters were given in terms of mass and linear attenuation coefficients, half and tenth-value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number, and effective density of electrons values. Besides, the build-up factor and its parameters were calculated for the proposed shielding material. Fast neutrons effective removal cross-sections were also estimated for the NiCoFe2O4 composite at different Ni/Co ratios. It was found that the highest nickel content (W4), the best gamma radiation attenuation parameters for the proposed composite, with a slight difference between nano and micro-sized samples. The maximum obtained value of mass attenuation coefficient at 661.7 keV was 0.0753 and 0.0751 (cm2/g) for nano- and micro-sized ferrite samples. Furthermore, the highest fast neutron removal cross-section was 0.1562 cm−1 which was achieved with the highest cobalt content sample (W1). •Shielding parameters of micro and nano nickel ferrites.•FLUKA-MC in the simulation of transmission experiments.•Theoretical calculations of mass and linear attenuation coefficients.•Effective fast neutron removal cross-section.