Gamma-ray shielding evaluation of highly-dense PBSCCx-glasses: experimental and simulation study

In this study, comprehensive experimental measurements have been achieved to assess the gamma shielding properties of the five unique compositions and highly dense PBSCCx-glass (4.13-4.51 g/cm3) at selected gamma-ray energies (81-2614 keV). Several significant radiation shielding factors, such as mass attenuation coefficient, half value layer, and Radiation protection efficiency (RPE), have been determined. The experimental outcome data agrees with those obtained via FLUKA codes. The PBSCCx-glasses possessed mu values as: 0.2813, 0.2881, 0.2939, 0.2999, and 0.3065 cm2/g for PBSCC00, PBSCC2.5, PBSCC5.0, PBSCC7.5, and PBSCC10 at 0.662 MeV, respectively. At all selected energy, PBSCC10 glasses (10 wt%) reported the lowest T1/2 with a reduction of up to 92% at 2.614 MeV compared to PBSCC00 and recorded the. Furthermore, PBSCC10 has the highest RPE. These findings demonstrate that the PBSCC10 glass exhibits excellent attenuation properties when compared to other tested materials. Through systematic variation of CeO2 concentrations and comparison of experimental data with FLUKA simulation results, the study provided a comprehensive analysis of gamma shielding properties, validating findings and enhancing understanding of how different CeO2 levels impact radiation attenuation. That provides novel insights into the optimal composition for enhanced gamma-ray shielding.