Gamma-Ray Shielding Capacity of Bi2O3-SiO2-B2O3 Glass Powders with Different Bi2O3 Contents

Abstract

The study investigated the shielding properties of Bi2O3-SiO2-B2O3 glass powders with varying Bi2O3 levels (45-60 mass%) against ionizing radiation using GAMOS (version 6.2). The simulation geometry produced by GAMOS was validated by comparing the results to conventional XCOM data for mass attenuation coefficients of glass particles. The Monte Carlo simulations were used to score photons that traveled in an absorber within the energy range of 0.01 MeV to 20 MeV, depending on the parameter under study. The simulation model involved a monoenergetic point source producing a pencil beam, absorber, and detector. We have calculated the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), Half-value layer (HVL), Tenth-value layer (TVL), and Mean Free Path (MFP). The greatest linear attenuation coefficients in the whole energy range are related to 60Bi and the lowest were to 45Bi. The obtained results were compared, and these results are in good agreement with the obtained values from the XCOM program.