γ-ray shielding features and crystallization of TiO2 borotellurite glasses

Abstract

Glasses of composition (60B2O3 –10 Na2O – 20TeO2 – (10-x) CaO) + xTiO2 where x ranged from 0.5 to 3 mol% have been prepared and coded as BTNCT0.0 (x = 0), BTNCT0.5 (x = 0.5), BTNCT 1.0 (x = 1.0), BTNCT2.0 (x = 2.0), and BTNCT3.0 (x = 3.0). Glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallization temperature (Tc) have been determined for the prepared samples. The addition of small concentration of TiO2 leads to change both of Tg and Tc. The glassy temperature of this glass is about 435 °C and the crystallization temperature at about 505 °C. Heat treatment has done for the glasses to obtain the crystalline phase. This action studied by both XRD, SEM, TEM, and EDAX pictures. Results proved that the glass phase performs as interconnecting amorphous zones between the crystals and the size of crystal grains is changed from 1 μm to 20 μm. The capability of using the investigated glasses as radiation shielding glasses has been evaluated. The mass attenuation coefficient (µ/ρ) has been calculated by using WinXcom software program in the range of 0.01–15 MeV photon energy. The related shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient (µ), half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) were evaluated and compared with those of commercial γ-ray shielding concrete. Results reveal that the HVL values for all investigated glasses increased except for BTNCT1.0 sample. Thus, BTNCT1.0 glass sample has the lowest HVL compared to other samples.