Gamma attenuation and radiation shielding properties of lead silicate glasses containing antimony and alumina oxides

Lead silicate glasses have been widely used in various applications, including radiation shielding, due to their high density and effective atomic number. However, the addition of certain oxides to the glass composition can significantly enhance their radiation shielding properties. In this study, we investigate the effect of incorporating antimony and alumina oxides on the photon attenuation and shielding properties of lead silicate glasses. It is found that the HVL values of the APSSS1 sample started from 0.00239 cm at photon energy of 0.015 MeV and increased with increasing energy to a maximum value of 4.223 cm at 6 MeV photon energy then decreased to 3.767 cm at energy of 15 MeV. Moreover, the shielding ability of the studied samples are compared with commercial glassy materials. The results of the study showed that the addition of antimony and alumina oxides significantly improved the radiation shielding properties of the lead silicate glasses.