Assessment of γ-ray and neutron safeguard competence of phosphate glasses containing potassium tungstate: comparative study

Here, a glassy based on 20K₂O–(20–X)Fe₂O₃–XK₂WO₄–60P₂O₅ system (X = 0.0 (GW-0.0), 2.5 (GW-2.5), 5.0 (GW-5.0), 10.0 (GW-10.0), 15.0 (GW-15.0), and 20.0 (GW-20.0) mol%) was synthesized by the melt-quenching technique. The structural characteristics, neutron and γ-ray attenuation competence of the prepared glasses were examined using the MCNP5 simulation code and Phy-X/PSD (Phy) software in the photon energy (Eγ) 0.015-15 MeV. XRD analysis established the non-crystalline nature of the glassy samples. The linear (µ) and mass (µ_m) attenuation coefficients possessed the order: GW-0.0 < GW-2.5 < GW-5.0 < GW-10.0 < GW-15.0 < GW-20.0. The GW-20.0 sample which has the highest content of K₂WO₄ possessed the lowest values half/tenth value layers, and mean free path. Within the studied energy range, the effective atomic number (\(\:{\text{Z}}_{\text{e}\text{f}}\)) verified the values: 19.587–12.543 for GW-0.0, 23.165–13.233 for GW-2.5, 26.447–13.903 for GW-5.0, 32.258–15.187 for GW-10.0, 37.243–16.400 for GW-15.0, and 41.567–17.549 GW-20.0 glasses, respectively. Commercial glasses were found to have a lower fast neutron removal cross-section than the GW-X glasses. Among the prepared GW-X glasses, the GW-20.0 displays the best neutron shielding capability and the GW-0.0 the best gamma radiation shielding capability.