Effect of BaO addition on gamma radiation shielding performance of sodium barium borate glasses using FLUKA code and PhyX/PSD platform

Novel Glass system with a formula of xBaO.(30− x).Na2O.70B2O3 (0 ≤x ≤ 30 mol%) have been prepared and examined. The BNaBax-glass structure was used to estimate the influence of BaO addition on the density and molar volume. There is a linear increase in density with increasing BaO concentration. The molar volume varies oppositely. Furthermore, the impact of barium oxide on the gamma and neutron radiation shielding capacities of xBaO.(30− x).Na2O–70B2O3 glasses have been investigated for radiation shielding applications. The μm: coefficient of mass attenuation for BNaBa-0, BNaBa-5, BNaBa-10, BNaBa-15, BNaBa-20, BNaBa-25, and BNaBa-30 glass samples were simulated using the Monte Carlo simulation FLUKA algorithm, in photon energy ranged 0.015MeV–15MeV, the resulting μm simulated results were compared with the Phy-X/PSD platform. The T1/2: half-value layer, λ: mean free path, Zeff: effective atomic number, EBF: exposure, and EABF: energy absorption buildup factors of the BNaBax-glass samples have been estimated. The results presented that a BNaBa-30-glass with a 30-mol.% concentration of BaO has the best gamma and neutron shielding capabilities than the other investigated BNaBax-glass samples. •Gamma and neutron shielding properties of BaO–Na2O–B2O3 have been studied.•The results were simulated at 0.015–15 MeV and compared with Phy-X/PSD values.•The BNaBa-30 has the best effectiveness shielding against gamma photons.•The results are useful in radiation protection of applications.