Synthesis, gamma and neutron attenuation capacities of boron-tellurite glass system utilizing Phy-X/PSD database

Phy-X/PSD was applied to evaluate the properties of gamma and neutron attenuation of TeO₂–B₂O₃–R_nO (R = Mg, K, and Zn) glass systems which is fabricated successfully by high temperature melting method. The abilities of gamma ray shielding were investigated by the relative parameters effective atomic number (Z_eff), half-value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), and fast neutrons (Σ_R) which are crucial gamma shielding parameters. Meanwhile, the parameter of Σ_R plays an essential role for evaluating the abilities of the neutron shielding. The study results revealed a phenomenon that the improving of TeO₂ fraction from 11 mol% to 61 mol% decreases the parameters of gamma shielding μ, μ/ρ, Z_eff, and Σ_R, and also increases HVL, TVL, and MFP parameters, which based on the high atomic number of tellurium. Furthermore, the prepared glasses were effective shielding material which can reduce fast neutrons as well as gamma rays, illustrating that prepared glass system possesses excellent properties of gamma shielding.