Alkaline phosphate glasses and synergistic impact of germanium oxide (GeO2) additive: Mechanical and nuclear radiation shielding behaviors

Abstract In this study, mechanical and nuclear radiation shielding behaviors of highly efficient alkaline phosphate glasses with various GeO2 concentrations were evaluated for their nuclear radiation shielding applications. Moreover, the glass rigidity parameters of alkaline phosphate glasses were calculated for determination mechanical properties. The μm values were calculated using XCOM program and MCNPX simulation code. The nuclear radiation shielding properties (gamma and neutron) such as μm, HVL, TVL, MFP, Zeff, EBF, EABF, and ΣR were calculated for all alkaline phosphate glasses with various GeO2 concentrations. The results showed that μm, Zeff, and ΣR increased as the Bi2O3 concentration increased. The G14 glass sample had the minimum HVL, TVL, MFP, EBF and EABF. The G14 sample had the largest μm, Zeff, and the number of network bonds, and can be considered as an excellent attenuator for gamma and neutron shielding. The outcomes of recent investigation can be useful to understand the nature of GeO2 additive into alkaline phosphate glasses, which can be considered as a candidate shield type in medical and industrial radiation facilities.