Neutron and Gamma Shielding Capabilities of Li and Na Borate Glasses

Glass is an increasingly popular candidate material for uses in radiation shielding in a variety of settings, including spacecraft design and medical environments. This study investigates the shielding properties of various glass samples produced in house at Coe College. The glasses were several sodium and lithium doped borate glasses with composition XNa2O-B2O3 and XLi2O-B2O3 (X = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) as well as 0.6Na2O-SiO2 and 0.6LI2O-SiO2. GATE, a geant4 extension, was used to simulate photon energies from 10 keV to 20 MeV. Additionally, neutron simulations were run from 2 to 12 MeV. Unfortunately, simulation restrictions prevented accurate thermal neutron simulations from being run. In addition, mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path, and fast neutron removal cross section are reported.