Determination of Some Optical, Structural and Radiation Shielding Properties of Waste Glass from Cathode Ray Tube

Recycling cathode ray tube (CRT) glass is essential for minimizing environmental impact and enhancing sustainability. The recycling of CRT glass addresses waste management issues and fosters a circular economy. This study distinguishes between two components of CRT glass samples: panel glass and neck glass, with the latter exhibiting a higher concentration of lead. Lead effectively absorbs and attenuates ionizing radiation, such as gamma and X-rays, rendering neck glass an effective radiation shield. Various measurements have been conducted to identify the structural characteristics of CRT glass samples, including XRD analysis, which confirmed the amorphous nature of each sample. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements reveal that the glass transition temperature of the neck sample exceeds that of the panel sample by 55 °C. The neck glass exhibits a reduced energy gap value due to the high lead content, which may suggest the glass's structural resistance to radiation. The oxygen packing density and Urbach values decline for the neck sample, whereas the density increases from 2.6196 to 3.4044 g/cm³ for the panel and neck samples, respectively. Additionally, the highest values for effective atomic number (Z_eff), effective atomic cross-section (C_eff), and effective electron density (N_eff) were found in the neck glass sample when shielding parameters, such as the half value layer, tenth value layer, and mean free path, were calculated using the Phy-X/PSD program at various gamma-ray energy. Mass attenuation coefficient values were recorded as practical and theoretical. The findings indicated that the neck sample exhibited enhanced protective properties.