Physical properties, experimental and theoretical gamma-ray shielding properties of some boron compounds

In this study, the densities of some boron compounds as AlB12, B4C, B95, MgB2, and B86 produced in Turkey were determined experimentally. Gamma-ray shielding ability for these boron compounds was measured experimentally and compared with the estimated theoretical values via the Phy-X/PSD program. The mass attenuation coefficient was measured experimentally with Ag, Ba, Cu, Mo, Rb, and Tb radioactive sources. The obtained data for the mass attenuation coefficient via the two methods represent a good agreement. Energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used in experimental procedures. All gamma-ray shielding factors such as mass and linear attenuation coefficient, half-value thickness and mean free path were calculated theoretically. The measurement results introduced the MgB2 sample as the best boron sample among all investigated boron samples. •In this work, new boron compounds were prepared and tested as shielding materials.•The MAC values of MgB2 are higher than the other samples.•The LAC took the order MgB2 > Al B2 > B4C ≅ B86 ≅ B95.