Investigation of Radiation Shielding Performance in Borosilicate Ceramic Glass Samples

Ceramic glass is a multipurpose solid-state material that merges the high thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical durability of ceramics with the transparency, light transmission, and aesthetic benefits of glass. Because of these qualities, ceramic glass can be used in both industrial and scientific settings, especially when radiation protection, high-temperature endurance, heat resistance to thermal fluctuations, and optical clarity are required. Radiation shielding properties of five distinct ceramic glass samples with the chemical formula B2O3-ZnO-K2CO3-PbO (abbreviated as BZKP) were comprehensively assessed in this study. The radiation protection parameters of B2O3-ZnO-K2CO3-PbO glass-ceramic systems, including gamma-ray kerma coefficients (kγ), half-value layer (HVL), radiation shielding efficiency (RPE), mean free path (MFP), fast neutron macroscopic cross section ΣR (cm−1), and effective atomic number (Zeff), were theoretically examined using Monte Carlo EGS4 and WinXCOM software. The radiation shielding characteristics at 20 discrete photon energies, ranging from 0.05 MeV to 2 MeV, were theoretically calculated using the EGS4 simulation code and subsequently compared with data obtained from the XCOM program. The results of this study provide solid and valuable information regarding the improved design of high-performance ceramic glasses for radiation shielding applications. To create effective shielding solutions, a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between various materials and ionizing radiation, such as neutrons and gamma rays, is essential. By combining these discoveries, scientists can create new shielding materials that make the most of materials in these critical areas while improving radiation protection.