Studying the shielding properties of lead glass composites using neutrons and gamma rays

The present work deals with the shielding properties of lead glass composites to find out its integrity for practical shielding applications and radiological safety. Composites of different lead oxide ratios (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 wt.%) have been prepared by the Nasser Glass and Crystal Company (Egypt). Attenuation measurements have been carried out using a collimated emitted beam from a fission Cf-252 (100 mu g) neutron source, and the neutron-gamma spectrometer with stilbene scintillator. The pulse shape discriminating (P.S.D.) technique based on the zero cross-over method was used to discriminate between neutron and gamma-ray pulses. Thermal neutron fluxes were measured using the BF3 detector and thermal neutron detection system. The attenuation relations were used to evaluate fast neutron macroscopic effective removal cross-section Sigma(R-Meas) (cm(-1)), gamma rays total attenuation coefficient mu (cm(-1)) and thermal neutron macroscopic cross-section Sigma(Meas) (cm(-1)). Theoretical calculations have been achieved using MCNP5 code to calculate the same two parameters. Also, MERCSF-N program was used to calculate fast neutron macroscopic removal cross-section Sigma(R-MER) (cm(-1)). Measured and MCNP5 calculated results have been compared and were found to be in reasonable agreement. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.