The influence of antimony additive on structural, mechanical, and nuclear radiation shielding parameters of rapidly quenched Pb-Sn binary alloy

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the ability of as-prepared PbSn₃Sb_x (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 wt.%) alloys for shielding against gamma-rays, the relationships between the mechanical properties and gamma-ray shielding parameters for four types of alloys have been studied and analyzed. Gamma-ray interaction with the as-prepared alloys has been discussed mainly in terms of total mass attenuation coefficient (µ_m), linear attenuation coefficient (µ), half value layer (HVL), and mean free path (X_m). From X-ray analysis, a crystalline intermetallic compound phase of SnSb is detected. The formation of the intermetallic compound phase and refinement of evaluated particle size causes a pronounced enhancement in internal friction, dynamic elastic modulus, and microhardness indentation. Attenuation shielding parameters of as-prepared alloys with free antimony are measured and calculated. It is noticed that the obtained results showed desirable values of shielding parameters. Mechanical properties and Vickers microhardness, H_v are critically evaluated and sensitive to changes in temperature and Sb antimony additions. Thus, the study indicates that 2.5 wt.% Sb alloy sample has a distinguished protection ability to attenuate the gamma-ray radiation. It can be concluded that the Sb additive for this type of binary alloys at content 2.5 wt.% can help to increase the shielding gamma-ray performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Shielding materials
• lead-based alloys
• Sb additives
• mechanical properties
• attenuation shielding parameters

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University (KKU) [grant number RGP.2/126/43].

Notes on contributors

Rizk Mostafa Shalaby

Professor Rizk Mostafa Shalaby works as a professor of materials physics at the physics department, faculty of science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt and has over 30 years of professional experience in research and teaching. Additionally, he is an editorial board member and a reviewer in more than twenty international scientific journals. He founded the metal physics laboratory, Physics department in 1993. He became a professor of materials physics at Physics department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University. His current research interests include metal physics, materials physics, metallic alloys, lead-free solder (environmentally friendly products), shielding alloys (for medical and industrial application), brazing or low melting alloys (for electrical and electronic applications), bearing alloys (antifriction alloys), free machining alloys and enhancements of its properties using rapid solidification technology using melt-spun process. His research interests cover the design and analysis of various metallic systems used for industrial and electronics applications with over 70 technical publications in industrial scientific international journals with high impact factor. He is a supervisor on many academic students, MSC and PhD from Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen.