Synergistic radiation shielding performance of Cu-based ternary alloys for multifunctional gamma, beta, and neutron radiation protection

Abstract

This study systematically evaluates the radiation shielding performance of ternary Cu–Zn–Al alloys against gamma rays, beta particles, and neutrons for nuclear, medical, and aerospace applications. Seven alloys with varied Zn and Al contents were produced by arc melting and analyzed using Phy-X/PSD, NGCal, and NIST ESTAR. For 0.662 MeV gamma rays, Cu70Zn2Al28 (A7) showed the highest mass attenuation coefficient (0.0731 cm²/g), indicating suitability for lightweight shielding. Cu70Zn28Al2 (A1) delivered the highest linear attenuation coefficient (0.5061 cm⁻¹), the shortest mean free path (1.97 cm), and the lowest half-value layer (1.369 cm), enabling compact, high-efficiency gamma attenuation. For beta radiation, A1 provided the best overall stopping power by balancing collisional and radiative losses, while A7 exhibited superior radiative stopping power at higher energies, favorable for specific industrial uses. Neutron analyses identified A1 as the top performer, with the highest linear attenuation coefficients for thermal (0.2216 cm⁻¹) and fast (0.0268 cm⁻¹) neutrons, along with short mean free paths and half-value layers. In conclusion, Cu–Zn–Al alloys offer tunable, multifunctional radiation protection, with A7 preferred for weight-sensitive applications and A1 for compact, high-performance shielding, informing the design of advanced, nontoxic, mechanically robust materials.