Investigation of gamma-ray attenuation coefficients for solid boronized 304L stainless steel

In this study, mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) and half value layer (HVL) at Eu-152 and Co-60 energies were used in measuring attenuation coefficients of the solid boronized AISI 304L stainless steel at 950 °C for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h. The experimental mass attenuation coefficients, μ/ρ, and HVL for these materials were compared to theoretical values obtained with WinXCOM. At the same time a new boriding agent (Baybora®-1) also developed for solid boriding method was used. The effects of boron layer size on radiation attenuation of boronized composites were evaluated in relation with gamma-ray transmission and the results of the experiments were interpreted. It could be understood that increased of boron layer in AISI 304L causes of increases in the attenuation coefficient values. The measured values agree with the theoretical values. The interaction parameters for selected samples have been computed and provided in the extended energy range 10^-3-10⁴ MeV. The shielding properties prepared stainless steel have also been compared with standard concretes as well as with the standard shielding stainless steel. It is found that the prepared stainless steel is the better shielding substitute to the conventional concretes as well as other standard shielding stainless steel. So, submicron size boron layer used composite materials are more convenient than micron size boron used composite materials as radiation shielding materials for nuclear applications.