Development of Advanced, Transparent Radiation Shielding Glass Possessing Boron and Lead Ions in the Glassy Matrix

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 physics,faculty of science, Al Azhar university

2 physics,faculty of science, alazhar university

3 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, El-Fayoum University, El-Fayoum

4 National Centers for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority

5 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University,

Abstract

The developed shielding glass system x PbO – 10Fe2O3 – (90-x) B2O3 (where 25 ≤ x ≤ 45 mol %) prepared by melt quenching technique and checked by XRD which reveals the amorphous nature of these glasses. Physical properties were performed by measuring the density at room temperature. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic analysis (FTIR) within the wavenumber range 4000–400 cm−1 was carried out to identify the spectral contribution of each component of the structure and results suggests that PbO plays either the role as a modifier or a role of the glass network. The indirect optical energy gaps (Eopt) decreased while Urbach energy (EU) increased with increasing PbO concentration in the studied glass samples. The index of refraction and optical conductivity values are observed to rise with an increasing PbO concentration in the studied glass samples. The results reflected that the increasing of the addition of the values of PbO in Fe2O3–B2O3 glasses improves the shielding properties. The present glasses possess high mass attenuation for gamma-ray and high mass removal cross-section for the neutrons. Hence, this glass system may be used considered promising to be used in some nuclear applications.

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