Improvement of Gamma and Fast Neutron Shielding Behavior in New Ceramic by Adding Ho2O3 and Eu2O3: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Abstract

This study is about improving the shielding performance of new types of ceramics produced by adding Ho2O3 (Holmium(III) Oxide) and Eu2O3 (Europium(III) Oxide) to ceramic bodies against nuclear radiation, namely neutrons and photons. Within the scope of the study, photon intensities (I and I-0) emitted by Barium-133 radioisotope were measured experimentally at different energies (81, 160, 223, 302, 356 and 383 keV). Using the obtained results, mass attenuation coefficient (mu rho), linear attenuation coefficient (mu, cm(-)1), half-value thickness (Delta(0).(5)), mean free path (lambda), effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and electron densities (Nel) were derived. Experimental results were compared with theoretical values obtained from the EpiXS program. Equivalent Absorbed Dose (EAD) values characterizing the experimental shielding properties of fast neutrons were measured using BF3 gas proportional neutron detector and 241Am/Be neutron source. Theoretically fast neutron shielding parameters (Sigma R) were also calculated. It is concluded that doping of ceramic bodies with Ho2O3 and Eu2O3 increases both photon and neutron shielding performance. Experimental results demonstrate the potential of these doped ceramics as effective materials for radiation shielding and the possibility of tailoring their performance by adjusting the doping concentrations. It is thought that the data obtained as a result of this research will be very important for applications in nuclear reactors, medical radiation protection and various high radiation environments.