Investigation of the Effects of Magnesium, Iron, and Manganese on Gamma Permeability in Zinc-Based Alloys Produced by Powder Metallurgy

This study aimed to investigate the gamma radiation shielding properties of zinc-based alloys. For this purpose, Zn1Mg, Zn1Mg0.1Mn, Zn3Mg, Zn3Mg0.1Mn, Zn5Mg, Zn5Mg1Fe, and Zn30Mg were produced using powder metallurgy. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) for different photon energies was investigated using the FLUKA Monte Carlo code. The half-value layers were also extracted. A comparison of the simulation with the theoretical results of XCOM showed satisfactory agreement (with a percentage difference below 1%). The obtained results for the MAC ranged from 0.8103 to 0.6297 cm²/g, 0.3339 to 0.2806 cm²/g, 0.1340 to 0.1284 cm²/g, 0.07321 to 0.07420 cm²/g, 0.06051 to 0.06164 cm²/g, 0.05469 to 0.05571 cm²/g, and 0.05131 to 0.05201 cm²/g for 81 keV, 122 keV, 245 keV, 662 keV, 964 keV, 1173 keV, and 1332 keV, respectively.

The microstructures of all alloys were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction to determine the structural changes caused by doping zinc with different elements. Microstructural studies and gamma permeability measurements of the zinc-based alloys were compatible.