Synthesis and radiation shielding properties of HG-Na2O-K2O-SrO-BaO-Er2O3 glasses (where, HG= B2O3; TeO2 and P2O5)

Abstract

Development of efficient shielding materials against harmful radiation is now of significant interests owing to increased use of radiation in several fields by humans. Consequently, this present study fabricated three Er3+ions-modified HG-Na2O-K2O-SrO-BaO-Er2O3 glasses (where, HG= B2O3; TeO2 and P2O5) whilst comparative investigation of their physical and gamma/neutron shielding characteristics are evaluated. The glasses were synthesized according to the following chemical equation: 64X – 5Na2O – 5K2O – 10SrO – 15BaO – 1Er2O3 mol. %, where x: B2O3; TeO2 and P2O5 by melt-quenching technique. The results revealed TeO2-based glass has better density of 4.976 gcm-3 compared to 2.958 and 3.126 gcm-3 for P2O5- and B2O3-based glasses respectively. B2O3-based glass displayed better neutron shielding value of 0.0970 cm-1 followed byTeO2- (0.0941 cm-1) and P2O5- (0.0872 cm-1). The MACs ranged from 0.0264-18.8787 cm2g-1 for P2O5-; 0.0276-22.8064 cm2g-1 for B2O3 and 0.0379-41.8888 cm2g-1 for TeO2-based glasses. TeO2-based glass showed LAC values between 0.1886-208.4386 cm-1 while both P2O5- and B2O3 glasses exhibited values within 0.0780-55.8431 and 0.0862-71.2929 cm-1 respectively. TeO2- also showed better MFP values within 0.0048-5.3028 cm compared to 0.0179-12.817 and 0.01403-11.5957 cm for P2O5- and B2O3- glasses. TeO2- showed the least HVL values within 0.0033-3.6756 cm followed by B2O3- (0.0097-8.0375 cm) and P2O5- (0.0124-8.8842 cm). Maximum Zeff values were also displayed by TeO2- with values between 33.4469-49.0928 followed by B2O3- (15.0092-41.2673) and P2O5- (15.3467-29.9584). Although, all the fabricated glasses showed potential for radiation shielding; TeO2-based glass displayed superior attenuation characteristics for high and low gamma photons energies.