Determination of the effective atomic numbers of Fe$_{x}$Cu$_{1-x} $binary ferroalloys using a nondestructive technique: Rayleigh-to-Compton scattering ratio

The aim of the present study is to determine effective atomic numbers (Zeff ) of FexCu1−x binary ferroalloys using scattering of 59.54 keV gamma photons at 130◦ (x = 4.36Å −1 ) scattering angle. For this purpose, the Rayleigh (R) and Compton (C) scattering intensities for the given alloys were measured using a monoenergetic beam of 59.54 keV gamma rays and the Rayleigh-to-Compton scattering ratio R/Cwas determined. Then the Zeff values of these alloys were determined by interpolating the R/C of the material using the R/C data of adjacent elements in between the R/C of the alloys. For comparison, Zeff s of alloys were also calculated using direct and interpolation methods in term of scattering R/C and attenuation of gamma photons. Good agreement in relative differences between Zeff s (experimental and theoretical) was found (maximum of ≤3.3% for total att.-direct method) for the chosen alloys and the Rayleigh-to-Compton scattering ratio was shown to be a complementary approach to determine the effective atomic number of binary ferroalloys. In addition, a polynomial equation between the experimental R/C values and the mass attenuation coefficients of alloys was developed to estimate the mass attenuation coefficient of different materials.