Photon attenuation properties of samarium-doped zinc bismuth silicate glass: A study using Cs-137, Co-60, and Na-22 Radiation Sources

Abstract

The photon attenuation properties of the samarium-doped zinc bismuth silicate (ZBSS) glass series were investigated, revealing a strong composition-dependent behavior. The ZBSS10 sample, with the highest Bi2O3 content, demonstrated the highest linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) of 2.829 cm-1 at 0.284 MeV. However, the LAC decreases with increasing photon energy, as higher-energy photons penetrate deeper into the glass. The Mean Free Path (MFP) increases as Bi2O3 content decreases, allowing photons to travel farther before interaction with atoms. At 0.284 MeV, ZBSS10 (0.931 wt% Bi2O3) had the shortest MFP of 0.353 cm, while ZBSS50 (0.741 wt% of Bi2O3) had MFP of 0.455 cm, representing a 28.9% increase. The elastic moduli enhanced with increasing SiO2 levels, and Poisson's ratio showed a significant increase with rising SiO2 content, indicating an improved mechanical property. The sample ZBSS50, with the highest SiO2 level, shows an enhanced fast neutron effective removal cross-section, surpassing other samples in the series. Both ZBSS10 and ZBSS50 provide excellent photon and neutron shielding, making them superior to some standard shielding materials and ideal for radiation protection applications.