Elucidating of the influence of tin and cadmium in the Bi–Pb alloy on its thermal and nuclear properties as a coolant in fast neutron reactors

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to investigate the physical properties and shielding characteristics of prepared (Bi–Pb) and (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) alloys, to be used as a coolant in a liquid metal nuclear fast reactor. The physical properties density, kinetics and mechanism of melting applying the reverse Johnson–Mehl–-Avrami rule and reduced time plot were applied, showing that melting processes take place in two dimensions, enthalpy and heat capacity were measured on the other hand for the prepared alloys within the solid and liquid states, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that the bulk density and melting temperature of (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) alloys are lower than (Bi–Pb) alloys. Likewise, the thermal properties of (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) alloys seemed more suitable applicants than that of (Bi–Pb) alloys. Additionally, eight different gamma-ray energy lines in the range 0.12178–1.40792 MeV were used to determine the mass attenuation for the alloy samples. Also, gamma radiation attenuation characteristics, the half-value layer and effective atomic number were determined using Phy-x/PSD software. Furthermore, three types of neutron energies (slow neutrons, total slow neutrons, as well as neutrons of energies greater than 0.4 eV) were used to determine the macroscopic neutron cross-sections for the prepared alloys. The calculated values of mass attenuation coefficients exhibited a very good agreement with the experimental values of those parameters. The values of neutron macroscopic cross sections at fast neutrons for (Bi–Pb) and (Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd) alloys are small, this means that there is no consequence on fast neutrons used in a nuclear breeder reactor. Finally, we may reach the conclusion that Bi–Pb–Sn–Cd alloys are a possible candidate to be used as a coolant in fast nuclear reactors, as well as it is most suitable as an outer cooling and shielding blanket vessel as well.KEYWORDS: Liquid metal alloysthermal propertiesneutron reactors coolantgamma rays and neutrons shielding properties Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsSamah DahySamah Dahy is a Ph.D. student in nuclear physics and its applications at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girl’s branch), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. She completed M.Sc. in radiation physics at the same department and institution. She specializes in the studies on the interaction of radiation with matter, radiation dosimetry, among others.T. Z. AmerT. Z. Amer is a Professor of nuclear physics and its applications, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girls Branch), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. She specializes in Mössbauer effect and its applications. She had conducted studies on glass shielding materials, vitrification of nuclear waste, neutron and gamma-ray shielding design irradiation facility and natural radioactive materials and also studied the use of liquid metal alloys in fast nuclear reactors.R. M. El ShazlyR. M. El Shazly is a professor of nuclear physics and its applications, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. He is specializing in the fields of nuclear reactions, identification of residual radionuclides from nuclear reactions, different radiation-detection systems and nuclear data analysis (gamma-rays, beta, alpha and neutron particles), and structural design and testing of different types of materials (concrete, glass and polymer) as a shield from nuclear radiation (radiation protection).N. S. GomaaN. S. Gomaa is a professor of nuclear physics and its applications, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Girls Branch), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. She specializes in the fields of nuclear reactions, natural radioactive materials and radiation detection systems.A. A. BahgatA. A. Bahgat is a professor emeritus of experimental solid-state physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. He specializes in materials physics, experimental physics and condensed matter physics. Also, he had published many papers in international journals and presented at national and international conferences. His research interests lie in experimental procedures and physics education.