Protection Efficiency of Various Nickel Alloys Against Neutron, Gamma Radiation and X-rays Exposure

Abstract

Six nickel alloys (Ni₃Al, NiAl, Ni₉₀Cr₁₀, Ni₈₀Cr₂₀, Ni₃₅Cr₂₀Fe₄₅, and Ni₆₀Cr₁₆Fe₃₄) varied in their chemical formulas, mole fractions (%) of each element, density, and Mean Atomic Number ( , alongside other chemical-physical properties were subjected to a prediction study depending on using NGCal and Phy-X software. Both free and friendly attenuation prediction software were chosen to calculate the attenuation factors against Neutron, Gamma radiation, and X-rays exposure. The calculated factors included Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC), Mass Attenuation Coefficient (MAC), Half and Tenth Value Layer (HVL and TVL), and Mean Free Path (MFP) by both Phy-X and online NGCAL software. NGCAL software was utilized to study the effect of photons at (0.1, 1, 15) MeV and neutrons [fast at 4 MeV and thermal at 25.4 meV). By using Phy-X software, energy range was (0.015-15) MeV, characteristic X-rays (K_α, K_β) included ₂₉Cu, ₃₇Rb, ₄₂Mo, ₄₇Ag, ₅₆Ba, and ₆₅Tb and radioactive isotopes were Am-241, Ba-133, Cd-109, Cs-137, Co-60, Eu-152, Fe-55, Na-22, and I-131. Additionally, protection efficiency (%) of each nickel alloy was calculated based on Lambert – Beer law by applying different thicknesses. The main aim of this prediction study is to provide workers that deal with Neutron, Gamma radiation, and X-rays particularly in the research, medical, industrial, and petroleum sectors most effective nickel alloy as a safe shielding material especially at high exposure energies. Both mathematical models indicated that Chromel (Ni₉₀Cr₁₀) as the highest density and high Nickel mole fraction exhibited the highest protection efficiency.