Study of photon interactions and shielding properties of silicate glasses containing Bi2O3, BaO and PbO in the energy region of 1 keV to 100 GeV

The mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), effective atomic number (Zeff), effective electron density (Ne,eff) and half-value layer (HVL) of xRmOn:(1 − x)SiO2 glass system (where RmOn are Bi2O3, PbO and BaO, with 0.3 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.7 is fraction by weight) have been calculated by theoretical approach using WinXCom program in the energy region from 1 keV to 100 GeV. Also, the HVL of these glass samples has been compared with some standard shielding concretes. The variations of μ/ρ, Zeff, Ne,eff and HVL with energy are shown graphically only for total photon interaction. It has been observed that the value of these parameters has been changed with energy and composition of the silicate glasses. The better shielding properties of glass samples were obtained compared with some standard shielding concretes. These results indicated that glasses in the present study can be used as radiation shielding materials.

► Interaction photon with of silicate glasses containing PbO, BaO and Bi2O3 studied.
► All interactions were changed with energy and composition of glasses.
► Shielding properties of glasses are better than some standard shielding materials.