High impact tungsten-doped borosilicate glass composite for gamma and neutron transparent radiation shielding

The preparation of transparent glass composites with enhanced shielding parameters is aimed at by all researchers in the radiation shielding field. In the current study, a novel tungsten-doped borosilicate glass composite with 1–5 mol % was prepared by means of melt quenching method at 1100 °C. Using both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the amorphous nature and the influence of W+3 ions were examined, respectively. Gamma shielding parameters, such as the coefficients of mass attenuation, the Exposure Build-up Factors (EBF) up to 40 mfp penetration depth, the effective atomic number (Zeff), and the equivalent atomic number (Zeq) at the energy range 0.015–15 MeV were investigated. Additionally, the fast neutron removal cross-sections had been determined. The obtained results indicated that with low tungsten concentrations: 1–5 mol %, the prepared glass composite has gamma attenuation capability equivalent to those previously obtained with higher concentrations of lead or bismuth and barium doping and lower EBF. These results nominated the prepared glass composite for use in gamma and neutron shielding applications, especially those requiring transparent shielding, like radiation therapy monitoring rooms.