Evaluation of the Shielding Properties of Various Water Equivalent Materials Using Different Calculation Methods and Monte Carlo

Abstract

In this study, linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), half-valued layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP) values of various materials such as water equivalent, ABS, Presage, RMI457, RW3, SW557, Epoxy, A150, Rhizophora spp., and Nylon-12 were found. These values were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation, EpiXS, Phy-X/PSD, and XCOM programs. Additionally, the fast neutron effective removal cross sections (𝛴�𝑅�) have been calculated using the empirical calculation method, Phy-X/PSD, MRCsC program, experimental, and MNCP5 with the help of fast neutron mass removal cross sections. Among all the materials studied, Nylon-12 has the highest 𝛴�𝑅� value. The calculated values of HVL, MFP, LAC, and MAC reveal that RW3, Epoxy, and Presage are the best materials in terms of their shielding properties, respectively.