Gamma-ray shielding capacity of different B4C-, Re-, and Ni-based superalloys

Six alloy samples have been fabricated and introduced as a new gamma-ray shield in this work. These alloys are based mainly on B4C, Cr, Fe, Cu, W, Re, and Ni metals in their structure. S1, S2, S5, S7, S8, and S10 super alloys crystal structure was analyzed via X-ray Diffraction. Shielding applications against gammas have been investigated via MCNP-5 Monte Carlo simulation code and XCOM theoretical program. Shielding factors such as linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and half-value thickness have been calculated. LAC of the prepared alloys was calculated in the 0.015–15 MeV and found 853.75, 769.46, 710.07, 556.05, 522.63, 418.00 cm−1 for S1, S2, S10, S5, S8, and S7 at 0.015 MeV. The LAC trend is found matching the density order of the samples, which found 10.91, 10.31, 9.91, 8.65, 8.19, and 7.58 g.cm−3 for S1, S2, S10, S5, S8, and S7, respectively. The transmission factor for 0.5 cm thickness of the alloy coded S1 (For example) increased from 32.949 to 81.971% with raising the photon energy in the range between 0.3 and 15 MeV, respectively. The protection efficiency of the fabricated alloys increases for decreasing TF values of the incident photons. Additionally, effective atomic number ( $$Z_{{{\text{eff}}}}$$ ), exposure and energy absorption buildup factors (EBF, EABF) have also been investigated. Furthermore, the EBF and EABF have been changed according to the change in equivalent atomic number (Zeq). The prepared alloys can be considered useful candidates in radiation shielding applications to reduce workers' exposure in the nuclear reactor area and medical centers.