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Abstract

The physical, structural, mechanical, and radiation (gamma photon and neutron) shielding properties of CRT screen glass and Bi2O3 mixtures are presented in this study with the aim of adopting them as cheap, transparent, and environmentally safe glass shields for radiation protection purposes. Bi2O3-doped CRT screen glass samples are prepared by the ball milling and cold press methods and coded as TVS, TVS-Bi10, and TVS-Bi20, representing glass-ceramics containing 0, 10, and 20 wt% of Bi2O3, respectively. Vickers hardness values are 493, 534, and 564 HV for TVS, TVS-Bi10, and TVS-Bi20, respectively. Also, the values of densities are measured and recorded as 2.61, 2.78, and 3.06 g/cm(3) for the TVS, TVS-Bi10, and TVS-Bi20. The values of the mass attenuation coefficients computed using FLUKA simulations and XCOM agree within an error margin of 1%. The values of the estimated photon shielding parameters show that shielding efficiency follows the order TVS < TVS-Bi10 < TVS-Bi20. In addition, the introduction of Bi2O3 has a positive impact to increase the ability of TVS to moderate fast neutrons The total cross-section for thermal neutrons in TVS, TVS-Bi10, and TVS-Bi20 is 1.1294, 1.1198, and 1.1932 cm(-1), respectively. The best photon, fast, and thermal neutron absorber is TVS-Bi20 among the TVS-BiX glass-ceramics. The TVS-Bi20 sample can function better than some commercially available glass shields, light and heavy concrete, and other categories of composite materials such as glasses, rocks, and polymers. The TVS-Bi20 is thus recommended as an eco-friendly and efficient radiation shielding material.