Fabrication, physical, structure characteristics, neutron and radiation shielding capacity of high-density neodymio-cadmium lead-borate glasses: Nd2O3/CdO/PbO/B2O3/Na2O

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2022-07, Vol.128 (7), Article 551
• Main Authors: Zakaly, Hesham M. H., Tekin, H. O., Issa, Shams A. M., Henaish, A. M. A., Ahmed, Emad M., Rammah, Y. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Atomic properties; Attenuation coefficients; Boron oxides; Cadmium; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical composition; Condensed Matter Physics; Density; Energy absorption; Fast neutrons; Glass; Lead oxides; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Radiation; Radiation shielding; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-022-05689-5

High-density glasses of neodymio-cadmium lead borate of chemical composition xNd 2 O 3 /20CdO/20PbO/(57-x)B 2 O 3 /3Na 2 O, where (0 (0Nd) ≤ x ≤ 5 (5Nd) wt%) have been fabricated by a melt quenching process. Physical, structure properties as well as gamma-radiation and neutron shielding effectiveness in wide photon energy range 0.015–15 MeV have been examined. The amorphous nature of xNd-glasses was confirmed, where there was a lack of their crystallinity. Density was gradually increased from 5.006 g/cm 3 for 0Nd-glass sample to 5.245 g/cm 3 for 5Nd-glass sample. In terms of the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), introducing Nd 3+ ions in the glass matrix has a direct constructive influence on the obtained values of MAC. Generally, the MAC trend follows the order (MAC) 5Nd  > (MAC) 4Nd  > (MAC) 3Nd  > (MAC) 2Nd  > (MAC) 1Nd  > (MAC) 0Nd . The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) has a similar trend as MAC for all xNd-glasses. In terms of the half-value layer ( T 1/2 ), the 5Nd-glasses possessed the minimum T 1/2 values (0.004 cm at 15 keV to 4.301 cm at 15 MeV). Therefore, the T 1/2 of the fabricated xNd-glasses has an inverse behavior of the MAC and LAC. Thus, ( T 1/2 ) 0Nd  > ( T 1/2 ) 1Nd  > ( T 1/2 ) 2Nd  > ( T 1/2 ) 3Nd  > ( T 1/2 ) 4Nd  > ( T 1/2 ) 5Nd . The effective atomic number ( Z eff ) parameter follows the order ( Z eff ) 5Nd  > ( Z eff ) 4Nd  > ( Z eff ) 3Nd  > ( Z eff ) 2Nd  > ( Z eff ) 1Nd  > ( Z eff ) 0Nd . In the energies preferred for radiation applications, 5Nd-glasses possess very low exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) buildup factor values. The fast neutron removal cross-section (FNRC) of the fabricated glasses is improved as the Nd 3+ content increases in the glass matrix.