Gamma-ray-induced changes in the radiation shielding, structural, mechanical, and optical properties of borate, tellurite, and borotellurite glass systems modified with barium and bismuth oxide

Abstract

This study explores the impact of different gamma-ray doses (2.5, 50, and 100 kGy) and TeO2 ratios on the structural, optical, mechanical, and radiation-shielding properties of borate glass systems modified with barium and bismuth oxide. Various physicochemical instruments were utilized to investigate these properties. The samples’ colors changed for all glasses with gamma-ray irradiation, and the color became more darkened with increasing doses. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman results confirmed the glass structure stability with different doses, but they offer a variation in intensity compatible with the bandgap energy results. Borate glass has the highest mechanical properties compared to the tellurite and borotellurite glass systems. Concomitantly, a gamma dose of up to 2.5 kGy enhanced the mechanical properties of all glass systems and then showed a reduction. Moreover, borate glass has the highest thermal stability compared to the tellurite and borotellurite glass, and gamma doses showed a slight variation. The tellurite and borate glasses recorded the highest and lowest band gaps, respectively. Experiments on the radiation-shielding properties and the effect of gamma doses were performed. The gamma-ray doses affected the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values of the tellurite and borotellurite glass samples. In contrast, the borate glass samples exhibited the highest MAC withstanding against gamma doses, and MAC values showed no variation with changing gamma doses. In summary, borate glass has the highest thermal stability, structural and mechanical properties, and stability in radiation-shielding features, which shows promise as an alternative for use in the radiation-shielding field.