The impact of CuO in modifying the radiation shielding performance of PbO–BaO–CaO–B2O3–CuO: An experimental approach

The current work aims to develop a new lead calcium barium borate glasses doped with CuO (10PbO–20BaO–10CaO-(60-x)B 2 O 3 -xCuO, (x = 0, 5, 10, and 15 mol%)) and to experimentally report the radiation shielding properties of the developed glasses. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) was determined in two methods and we compared the results of both methods to check the accuracy in the experimental method. The effect of CuO on the LAC was examined and the results showed a positive relation between the amount of CuO and the LAC values and this is clearly seen at low energy range. The half and tenth thickness layers (HTL and TTL) were determined and the results showed that the HTL values equal to 0.051, 0.049, 0.047 and 0.045 cm at 60 keV, while they were 0.170, 0.163, 0.156 and 0.149 cm for TTL for the glasses with 0, 5, 10 and 15 mol% CuO respectively. The transmission efficiency (TF) results demonstrated that the addition of CuO to the glasses causes a reduction in the number of photons that can penetrate the glasses. The shielding efficiency parameter also confirms that the addition of CuO causes an enhancement in the radiation shielding properties for the prepared glasses. • The addition of CuO enhances the LAC at 60 keV. • LAC measured by two methods to verify experimental accuracy. • The HTL reduces with adding CuO at 60, 662, 1173 and 1333 keV. • Shielding efficiency enhances with adding CuO in the energy range of 60–1333 keV.