The correlation between optical, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties for SiO2–ZnO–PbO2 glass samples doped with different concentrations of Gd2O3

Abstract

Four silicate glasses modified with ZnO and PbO₂ and doped with different ratios of Gd₂O₃ were manufactured to evaluate their optical, mechanical, and radiation shielding characteristics. The evaluation used the Makishima–Mackenzie principle to assess the mechanical features, the absorption spectra to compute the band gap and optical features, and the Phy-X program for the estimation of the radiation shielding parameters. There was a 56.035 to 54.913 GPa modulus reduction with increased Gd₂O₃ and PbO₂. Also, the band gap showed a reduction from 2.920 to 2.789 eV. The mechanical and optical properties results showed decreased glass stability with the addition of Gd₂O₃ and PbO₂. On the other side, the radiation shielding behavior increased. For example, at 0.015 the mass attenuation coefficient increased from 74.974 to 78.600 cm²/g. According to the above results, it can be deduced that the present samples showed acceptable glass stability and radiation shielding parameters, nominating the glass for use as radiation shielding materials.