Comparative study of lead borate and bismuth lead borate glass systems as gamma-radiation shielding materials

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2004.05.016

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

Volume 225, Issue 3, September 2004, Pages 305-309

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2004.05.016 Get rights and content

Abstract

Gamma-ray mass attenuation coefficients have been measured experimentally and calculated theoretically for PbO–B₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃–PbO–B₂O₃ glass systems using narrow beam transmission method. These values have been used to calculate half value layer (HVL) parameter. These parameters have also been calculated theoretically for some standard radiation shielding concretes at same energies. Effect of replacing lead by bismuth has been analyzed in terms of density, molar volume and mass attenuation coefficient.

Introduction

With increasing use of gamma-ray active isotopes in industry, medicine and agriculture, it has now become necessary to study mass attenuation coefficients in various materials of technological and biological importance. There is always a need to develop material, which can be used under harsh conditions of nuclear radiation exposure and can act as shielding material [1]. For nuclear radiation shielding, a larger quantity of shielding material is required; therefore, study of propagation of radiation flux in shielding materials is essential requirement for shield design.

Major mass of nuclear radiation shield consists of layers of different concretes with different compositions and densities, but considerable variations in water contents in concretes add uncertainty in calculation of attenuation coefficients and moreover, they are also opaque to visible light. With the development of theoretical tables and computer program (XCOM) for calculations of mass attenuation coefficients, it has now become possible to make a meaningful comparison between theoretical and experimental results [2], [3], [4]. Material to be used for shield design should have homogeneity of density and composition. Glasses are promising materials in this regard. Several glasses have been developed for nuclear engineering applications because they accomplish the double task of allowing visibility while absorbing radiations like gamma-rays and neutrons [5], [6]. A good shielding glass should have high value of interaction cross-section and at the same time, irradiation effects on its mechanical and optical properties should be small.

Present work has been undertaken to evaluate PbO–B₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃–PbO–B₂O₃ glass systems as gamma-ray shields. Experimental values of mass attenuation coefficients have been compared with theoretically calculated values for these glass samples. Considerable variations have been observed in density, molar volume and mass attenuation coefficient on replacing lead by bismuth.

Section snippets

Theory

Mass attenuation coefficient may be written as $μ/ρ= ln (I_{0} /I)/ρt,$ where ρ is density of material, I₀ and I are incident and transmitted intensities and t is thickness of absorber.

The maximum error in mass attenuation coefficient can be determined from errors in intensities, thickness and density using the relation $Δ (μ/ρ)=1/ρt{(Δ I_{0} /I_{0})^{2} +(Δ I/I)^{2} +[ln (I_{0} /I)]^{2} ·[(Δ ρ/ρ)^{2} +(Δ t/t)^{2}]}^{1/2} .$ The mass attenuation coefficient for mixture of elements is given by `mixture rule' $μ/ρ=∑w_{i} (μ/ρ)_{i},$ where w_i and (μ/ρ)_i are

Experimental procedure

Glass samples of the system xPbO · (1 − x)B₂O₃ (x=0.20 to 0.50) and xBi₂O₃ · (0.80 − x)PbO · 0.20B₂O₃ (x=0.10 to 0.70) were prepared by melt quenching technique. Appropriate amounts of PbO, Bi₂O₃ and H₃BO₃ (AR grade) were mixed thoroughly. Melts of aforesaid systems with different compositions were obtained in electrically heated furnace. Dry oxygen was bubbled through melts at 950 °C using quartz tube to ensure homogeneity. This process was followed by annealing in copper mould up to room temperature.

Results and discussion

Compositions, densities and molar volumes for the prepared glass samples are given in Table 1. Molar volume decreases with increase in mole fraction of PbO in PbO–B₂O₃ glass system, wheras on the other hand, it increases by replacing PbO by Bi₂O₃ in Bi₂O₃–PbO–B₂O₃ glass system. Substitution of lead by bismuth causes the expansion of network. Similar trends for densities and molar volumes have already been reported in literature for these glass systems [8], [9], [10]. Experimental and

Conclusions

PbO–B₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃–PbO–B₂O₃ glass systems have been observed to be promising gamma-ray shielding materials. Their radiation shielding properties are also better than concretes with added advantage of being transparent to visible light. Their high values of mass attenuation coefficient and low value of HVL in comparison to concretes indicate that the volume required for shield design will be less than concretes. It has been also observed that bismuth glasses have higher density and mass

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