Investigation of structural, thermal properties and shielding parameters for multicomponent borate glasses for gamma and neutron radiation shielding applications

• Published in: Journal of non-crystalline solids 2017-09, Vol.471, p.222-237
• Main Authors: Lakshminarayana, G., Baki, S.O., Kaky, Kawa M., Sayyed, M.I., Tekin, H.O., Lira, A., Kityk, I.V., Mahdi, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FTIR; Mass attenuation coefficients; Multicomponent borate glasses; Radiation shielding parameters; Raman; TGA/DSC
• ISSN: 0022-3093; 1873-4812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2017.06.001

Multicomponent borate glasses with the chemical composition (60−x) B2O3–10 Bi2O3–10 Al2O3–10 ZnO–10 Li2O–(x) Dy2O3 or Tb4O7 (x=0.5mol%), and (60−x−y) B2O3–10 Bi2O3–10 Al2O3–10 ZnO–10 Li2O–(x) Dy2O3–(y) Tb4O7 (x=0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0mol%, y=0.5mol%) have been fabricated by a conventional melt-quenching technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total reflectance-Fourier transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Also, the radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), half value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) values were explored within the energy range 0.015MeV–15MeV using both XCOM and MCNPX code to determine the penetration of gamma and neutron radiations in the prepared glasses. The main BO3, BO4, BiO6, and ZnO4 structural units and AlOAl bonds were confirmed by ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Weight loss, and the glass transition (Tg), onset crystallization (Tx), and crystallization (Tc) temperatures were determined from TGA and DSC measurements, respectively. The stability of the glass against crystallization (ΔT) is varied within the temperature range 114–135°C for the studied glasses. In addition, the shielding parameters like the (μ/ρ) values investigated using both MCNPX Monte Carlo and XCOM software are in good agreement with each other. The (μ/ρ) values calculated using XCOM software were used to evaluate the HVL and MFP in the photon energy range 0.015MeV–15MeV. It is found that all the synthesized glasses possess better shielding properties than ordinary concrete, zinc oxide soda lime silica glass and lead zinc phosphate glass indicating the high potentiality of the prepared glasses to be utilized as radiation shielding materials. •Glasses in the system B2O3-Bi2O3-Al2O3-ZnO-Li2O-Dy2O3-Tb4O7 were synthesized.•Various functional groups were confirmed by both ATR-FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.•All the synthesized glasses show good thermal stability with ΔT (=Tx−Tg)>100°C.•XCOM software and MCNPX simulation are used to calculate (μ/ρ) at different energies.•Geometric progression (GP) method was used to calculate the exposure buildup factors.