X-ray attenuation features of some tellurite glasses evaluated at medical diagnostic energies

We investigated the X-ray interaction parameters with quaternary tellurite glass system in the structure of TeO2-ZnO-Nb2O5-Gd2O3. The X-ray attenuation parameters have been evaluated at six energies widely used in diagnostic radiology namely; 13.8, 22.1, 33.2, 59.9, 88 and 99 keV. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) has been calculated and the effect of the glass composition on this parameter was discussed. The results demonstrated that the increment of Gd2O3 in the glasses gave rise to an increase in the MAC at 13.8 keV, 59.9 keV, 88 keV and 99 keV. While, at 22.1 keV and 33.2 keV, NbGd0 has the highest MAC, which means that MAC decreases with the addition of Gd2O3 .The MAC values at 13.8 keV are higher for the present glasses than at other energies (in order of 48.89 to 52.84 cm(2)/g at this energy). The maximum effective atomic number was found to the sample with 2.5 mol% of Gd2O3, whereas the minimum Z(eff )values were found for NbGd0.The X-ray attenuation parameters of the selected glasses were compared with several types of glass systems, and commercial glasses. The results show that the present samples are appropriate potential replacement for the traditional shielding materials at general diagnostic facilities. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.