Multi-objective optimization strategies for radiation shielding performance of BZBB glasses using Bi2O3: A FLUKA Monte Carlo code calculations

Abstract

Highly efficient gamma shielding of BZBB glasses with various Bi2O3 concentrations in the xBi2O3-30B2O3-(65-x)ZnO-5BaO, (5 ≤ x ≤ 25 mol%) were evaluated for their radiation shielding properties. The m results have been evaluated via the NISTXCOM database and simulated via FLUKA code. The simulation values by Monte Carlo code (FLUKA) have been shown to converge and correlate with XCOM values. Shielding properties like HVL, MFP, Zeff, EBF, and EABF values have been computed. The values observed that μm and Zeff increase with increasing Bi2O3. 47.09, 48.91, 50.73, 52.54 and 54.36 (cm2/g) are the μm values for BZBB1, BZBB2, BZBB3, BZBB4 and BZBB5 glasses at 15 keV. Also, the μm values decrease with increasing photon energy for all glass samples. Moreover, BZBB5 sample had the lowest HVL, MFP, EBF, and EABF values. That indicates to the addition of Bi2O3 improves the radiation shielding properties of BZBB glasses. The obtained results were compared with the most commonly shielding materials such as lead and concretes. It was concluded that the improved BZBB glasses with the addition of Bi2O3 showed excellent shielding properties comparing with shielding materials. These results could be highly beneficial for fields such as medical treatment facilities. © 2020 The Authors.