The Gamma Ray, Thermal and Fast Neutrons Shielding Properties of Gd2O3-SiO2-Y2O3-CaO-B2O3 Glass Series Using FLUKA Simulation Code

Abstract

The g-ray, thermal and fast neutrons shielding properties of Gd2O3-SiO2-Y2O3-CaO-B2O3 glass series have been studied. The mass attenuation coefficients (µm) for g-ray of this glass series have been obtained at an energy range 59.6-1332 keV using Phy-X software and FLUKA Monte Carlo code simulation. The obtained results were found to be in good agreement. The 50Gd2O3-20SiO2-5Y2O3-10CaO-15B2O3 glass sample showed the highest µm value with the lowest half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) value compared with the other ones in this glass series. As for the case of thermal and fast neutron shielding properties, the FLUKA Monte Carlo code and partial density method were used for stimulation, respectively. It was found that 50Gd2O3-20SiO2-5Y2O3-10CaO-15B2O3 glass sample showed the mass attenuation coefficients (µm) for thermal neutrons decreased with increasing Gd2O3 content for fast neutrons, and the removal cross section (∑R) showed the highest value while half value layer (HVL) and the relaxation lengths showed the lowest value. These results indicated that this glass series has high Gd2O3 content possesses excellent g-ray and fast neutron shielding properties, while the 20SiO2-5Y2O3-10CaO-65B2O3 glass sample possesses superb thermal neutrons shielding.