The role of PbF on the gamma-ray photon, charged particles, and neutron shielding prowess of novel lead fluoro bismuth borate glasses

The radiation shielding characterization of glasses is vital in establishing their role in nuclear protection applications. This study presents the influence of reducing PbF content on the radiation shielding parameters of xCaF–(25-x)PbF–25BiO–49.8BO–0.2CrO glasses where x = 0, 5, 15, and 25 mol % represents the glass code, Ca/Pb-BBC1, Ca/Pb-BBC2, Ca/Pb-BBC3, and Ca/Pb-BBC4, respectively. Photon and cold neutron transmission parameters were evaluated through the use of FUKA simulations and confirmed by WinXCOM (for photons only) calculations. On the other hand, the shielding quantities for electron, proton, alpha particle, and carbon ions were estimated from ESTAR, PSTAR, ASTAR, and SRIM codes. While the fast neutron removal cross section and interaction cross sections for thermal neutrons were estimated through analytic expressions. The value of mass attenuation coefficient decreased from 4.178–0.042, 4.086–0.042, 3.846–0.040, and 3.550–0.039 cm/g for Ca/Pb-BBC1—4 accordingly as photon energy increased from 0.1 to 10 MeV. Analysis of other calculated photon absorbing quantities such as effective atomic number, half value layer, and gamma-ray dose constant shows that the increase in the PbF content increased the photon shielding ability of the glasses. A similar effect was observed for charged particle absorption. A comparison of the photon and neutron absorbing capacity of the Ca/Pb-BBC glasses with those of common radiation shields shows that the Ca/Pb-BBC glasses have capacity to shield gamma rays and neutrons better. The Ca/Pb-BBC glasses hence are attractive for radiation protection functions such as for the storage of nuclear waste and laboratory radiation sources and shielding in contemporary and future applications of radiation.