Calculation of Gamma Radiation Shielding Parameters of Al-Ni Intermetallic Compounds

Abstract

In this study, the radiation shielding properties of Al-Ni intermetallic compounds (Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, Al4Ni3, AlNi, Al3Ni5 and AlNi3), which have potential for nuclear applications due to their physical properties such as high strength, low density, thermal stability, high thermal conductivity (76 W/mK) and oxidation/corrosion resistance, were investigated. Mass absorption coefficients, linear absorption coefficients, half thickness values (HVL), tenths thickness values (TVL), mean free paths (MFP) and effective atomic numbers were obtained by calculations for photon energies in the range of 1 keV -105 MeV with WinXCom program and 0.047 - 2.506 MeV with PHITS and GEANT4 programs. It was found that the results obtained with all three programs were in good agreement in the selected energy range. It was observed that the values of the mass absorption coefficient and effective atomic numbers increased with increasing density of the intermetallic compound, whereas the values of the HVL, TVL and MFP decreased. By examining the calculated parameters, it was determined that Al-Ni intermetallic compounds have lower armoring capacity compared to other materials proposed as armoring materials in the literature, but they are sufficient for radiation shielding and AlNi3 compound is a more suitable candidate for gamma shielding compared to other compounds.

Keywords

• Radiation shielding
• Al-Ni
• İntermetalic compound
• Geant
• Phits

Al-Ni İntermetalik Bileşiklerinin Gama Radyasyonu Zırhlama Parametrelerinin Hesaplanması

Abstract

Bu çalışmada yüksek mukavemet, düşük özgül ağırlık, termal stabilite, yüksek termal iletkenlik (76 W/mK) ve oksidasyon/korozyon direnci gibi sahip oldukları fiziksel özelliklerle nükleer uygulamalar için potansiyel barındıran Al-Ni intermetalik bileşiklerinin (Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, Al4Ni3, AlNi, Al3Ni5 ve AlNi3) radyasyon zırhlama özellikleri incelendi. WinXCom programı ile 1 keV - 105 MeV aralığında, PHITS ve GEANT4 programları ile 0.047 – 2.506 MeV aralığındaki foton enerjileri için yapılan hesaplamalarla kütle soğurma katsayıları, lineer soğurma katsayıları, yarı kalınlık değerleri (YKD), onda bir kalınlık değerleri (OKD), ortalama serbest yolları (MFP) ve etkin atom numaraları elde edildi. Seçilen enerji aralığında her üç programla da elde edilen sonuçların iyi bir uyum içerisinde oldukları tespit edildi. İntermetalik bileşiğin yoğunluğunun artmasıyla, kütle soğurma katsayısı ve etkin atom numaraları değerlerinin arttığı, YKD, OKD ve OSY değerlerinin ise azaldığı görüldü. Hesaplanan parametreler incelenerek Al-Ni intermetalik bileşiklerinin literatürde zırhlama malzemesi olarak önerilen diğer malzemelerle karşılaştırıldığında daha düşük zırhlama kapasitesine sahip olsa da radyasyon zırhlama için yeterli düzeyde olduğu ve AlNi3 bileşiğinin diğer bileşiklere oranla gama zırhlama için daha uygun bir aday olduğu tespit edildi.

Keywords

• Radyasyon zırhlama
• Al-Ni
• İntermetalik bileşik
• Geant
• Phits

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