Probing of nuclear radiation attenuation and mechanical features for lithium bismuth borate glasses with improving Bi2O3 content for B2O3 + Li2O amounts

Against photon energies extending from 0.015 to 15 MeV, MCNPX, FLUKA and PHITS codes are operated to simulate mass attenuation coefficients ( μ / ρ ) for a total of ten B 2 O 3 -Bi 2 O 3 -Li 2 O glass compositions with added Bi 2 O 3 amount from 10 to 55 mol% (5 mol% growth gradually) as a substitute for total (B 2 O 3 + Li 2 O) mol% content. All the computed μ/ρ values correctness is examined by Py-MLBUF and WinXCOM programs’ μ/ρ outcomes and we found a good agreement among them. 55Bi 2 O 3 -35B 2 O 3 -10Li 2 O (mol%) glass half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) quantities are compared with distinct commercial γ -ray attenuating glasses, alloys, polymers, concretes and lead and ceramics corresponding values. Next, equivalent atomic numbers ( Z eq ) and by employing geometric progression (G – P) fitting method at 1–40 mfp PDs (penetration depths), at 0.015–15 MeV energy range ‘buildup factors’ were calculated. At all chosen twenty-five energies derived radiation protection efficiency (RPE) results assured investigated samples exemplary competence for low energy photons absorption. Applying SRIM codes Ψ P and Φ P and Ψ A and Φ A (mass stopping powers (MSPs) and projected ranges (PRs) for protons and α -particles), and making use of ESTAR database Ψ E (electron MSP) and continuous slowing‐down approximation (CSDA) range for electrons are determined at KE (kinetic energy) range of 0.015–15 MeV. Moreover, fast neutron removal cross-sections ( Σ R ), for 0.0253 eV energy neutrons absorption cross-sections have been estimated. Deduced Σ R was altered at 0.1105–0.1205 cm −1 range with Bi 2 O 3 inclusion in studied samples. 10Bi 2 O 3 -70B 2 O 3 -20Li 2 O (mol%) glass has greater total cross-section (=23.251 cm −1 ) for thermal neutrons absorption while 55Bi 2 O 3 -35B 2 O 3 -10Li 2 O (mol%) sample exhibits quality shielding factors for photons and fast neutrons confirming the included Bi 2 O 3 positive impact. Along with nuclear attenuation features various physical and mechanical aspects are also inspected. Derived V m (molar volume), OPD (oxygen packing density), V o (oxygen molar volume), V t (packing density) and G t (dissociation energy per unit volume) values indicated glasses rigidity. Following Makishima–Mackenzie's theoretical model primary mechanical features like Y, K, S and L (Young's, bulk, shear and longitudinal modulus) and σ (Poisson's ratio) are evaluated where 10Bi 2 O 3 -70B 2 O 3 -20Li 2 O (mol%) glass shows better elastic moduli in all samples.