A detailed investigation on highly dense CuZr bulk metallic glasses for shielding purposes

Abstract

Gamma-ray shielding properties of eight different metallic glasses based on CuxZr100-x: x = 35 (Cu35Zr65) − 70 (Cu70Zr30) were determined using Monte Carlo simulations and Phy-X/PSD software. A typical gamma-ray transmission setup has been modeled in MCNPX Monte Carlo code. The general trend of the linear attenuation coefficients (μ) was reported as (μ)Cu35Zr65 < (μ)Cu40Zr60 < (μ)Cu45Zr55 < (μ)Cu50Zr50 < (μ)Cu55Zr45 < (μ)Cu60Zr40 < (μ)Cu65Zr35 < (μ)Cu70Zr30. In terms of half value layer (HVL) values, the Cu35Zr65 sample has the highest value (2.984 cm) and the Cu70Zr30 sample has the lowest value (2.769 cm) at 8 MeV photon energy. The mean free path (MFP) values were 4.305 and 3.995 cm for Cu35Zr65 and Cu70Zr30 samples, respectively. Generally, MFP and HVL values of the studied glasses were reported as (MFP,HVL)Cu35Zr65 > (MFP,HVL)Cu40Zr60 > (MFP,HVL)Cu45Zr55 > (MFP,HVL)Cu50Zr50 > (MFP,HVL)Cu55Zr45 > (MFP,HVL)Cu60Zr40 > (MFP,HVL)Cu65Zr35 > (MFP,HVL)Cu70Zr30 for all photon energy range. The Cu70Zr30 sample showed maximum values of both the effective conductivity (C eff) and effective electron density (N eff). In addition, the Cu70Zr30 sample has minimum exposure and energy absorption buildup factor (EBF and EABF) values at all studied gamma-ray energies. The results revealed that the Cu70Zr30 sample has superior attenuation properties among all studied samples.

Radiation shielding properties of low-density Ti-based bulk metallic glass composites: a computational study

“…The mass attenuation coefficient (μ m , cm 2 /g) is the main and fundamental shielding parameter which gives the interaction probability of photons with mass per unit area of the material. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ, cm −1 ) is equivalent to μ m , but it gives the fraction of attenuated radiation per unit thickness of the material [7,32,42,43]. The μ m and μ are calculated using a very familiar Beer-Lambert law, I = I 0 e − μ t .…”

“…The mean free path (λ) is the average distance traveled by a photon before just a collision. The HVL, TVL, and λ are calculated using the relations, ln 2 1 ( )m -, ln 10 1 ( )m -, and μ −1 , respectively, and measured in cm unit [32,44]. The effective atomic number (Z eff ) of a composite material like BMG can not be expressed as a single number like elements.…”

“…The exposure and energy absorption build-up factors (EBF & EABF) are other two important parameters that help study of equivalent atomic number (Z eq ), (c) calculation of geometric progression (G-P) fitting parameters using the logarithmic interpolation method, and (d) evaluation of EBF and EABF. The description of each step can be found elsewhere on literature [28,32,46]. Further, the fast neutron removal cross-section (Σ R , cm −1 ) is the likelihood that a neutron will experience certain interactions for each unit length of the substance it traverses through [27,43].…”

“…Thus, μ is higher for those samples with higher density. The dominant interaction at lower energy spectrum (i.e., photoelectric effect) depends upon the density and atomic number of the composite material [32,48,49]. Beyond 0.1 MeV, density has a negligible effect.…”

Determination of Gamma Radiation Shielding Characteristics for Some Iron-Based Metallic Glasses

“…As a result of the calculations, they suggested that metallic glasses Ti32.8Zr30.2Ni5.3Cu9Be22.7 and Ti31.9Zr33.4Fe4Cu8.7Be22 could be good radiation shielding materials. Tekin et al [16] investigated the radiation shielding capacities of metallic glasses having eight different concentrations in CuxZr100-x (x=35 (Cu35Zr65)-70(Cu70Zr30)) combination using MCNPX simulation and Phy-X/PSD interface. For this purpose, they calculated the linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path, effective atomic number and electron density parameters in the energy range of 0.015 to 15 MeV.…”