Radiation shielding parameters of BaO-Nb2O5-P2O5 glass system using MCNP5 code and XCOM software

The radiation shielding properties (mass attenuation coefficient, effective atomic number, half value layer, mean free path and exposure buildup factor) of xBaO-20Nb(2)O(5)-(80-x)P2O5, (x = 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mol%) glass system has been evaluated. The mass attenuation coefficient was calculated at 31, 59.5, 80, 356 and 662 keV photon energies using XCOM program and MCNP5 code. The obtained results are found to be in good agreement. The values of mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number of the present glass system are found to be increasing with increasing the BaO content at all energies. The mean free paths of the present samples are found to be smaller than the mean free path of some standard shielding glasses and concretes. This establishes that the present glasses possess better radiation shielding competence. The effect of the penetration depth on exposure buildup factor has also been discussed to through more light on their gamma ray interaction behaviour. The 60BaO-20Nb(2)O(5)-20P(2)O(5) sample was found to be the best gamma shield.