Effect of Ag₂O/V₂O₅ substitution on the radiation shielding ability of tellurite glass system via XCOM approach and FLUKA simulations

This study focuses on the effect of Ag₂O/V₂O₅ substitution on the radiation shielding ability of tellurite glass system with the chemical composition of xAg₂O + 40TeO₂ + (60 − x)V₂O₅ with 0 < x < 50 mol%. FLUKA code was successfully employed for simulation the radiation interaction parameters of the glass systems. The results of the simulations were comparable with the predications of theory. Thereafter, several empirical equations were used to study the shielding ability of the glass systems against neutrons and charged particles. The results indicate that linear attenuation coefficient changes with energy and reaches maximum at 0.6 MeV (minimum at 10 MeV) with the values of 0.2806 (0.109), 0.3181 (0.121), 0.3771 (0.1498), 0.409 (0.168), 0.4588 (0.1911), and 0.5162 (0.2180) for x = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mol%, respectively. Beyond 5 MeV, the gamma ray constant was found in the order of ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=50}$ > ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=40}$ > ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=30}$ > ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=20}$ > ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=10}$ > ${\left(\Gamma \right)}_{x=0}.$ For all the charged particles, the projectile range was noted in the order of (R)_x=0 > (R)_x=10 > (R)_x=20 > (R)_x=30 > (R)_x=40 > (R)_x=50. Finally, we provide an extensive comparative study between AVT-glass systems and standard traditional materials. The obtained results suggest the sample of x = 50 mol% as the best photon, fast neutron and charged particle shield amongst the present glass systems. Hence, AVT6 could be used in radiation safety applications as a shield. (paper)