TiB2 Thin Film Coated Glass and High Speed Steel (HSS) in Applications of Radiation Shielding Technology

Abstract

TiB2 (titanium diboride) is a transition metal boride with remarkable properties and, its thin-film coatings can be deposited on various substrates to develop the wear resistance properties of substrates. Radiation interaction properties of TiB2 coated glass and HSS are very significant as well for shielding applications and it has not been investigated so far. In this work, linear attenuation coefficient (µ), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL) and mean free path (MFP) of TiB2 coated glass and HSS (AISI-M2) were measured using a 133Ba radioactive point source at energies 80.8, 276.4, 302.8, 356 and 383.8 keV. A comparison has been made with some radiation shielding concretes with respect to MFP. Energy absorption and exposure buildup factors (EABF and EBF) of composites were also calculated in the experimental energy region 50 – 500 keV. TiB2 coated glass and HSS were found to be better radiation shielding materials than the standard shielding concretes concluding that they can be further developed for radiation shielding applications.