Influence of gamma irradiation on the optical, thermal and electrical features of blue commercial glass as potential accident dosimetry

Abstract

A recycled commercial glass sample doped small amounts of cobalt to give blue glass. A change in its color upon being exposed to gamma-radiation according to the irradiation doses has been identified. The effect of irradiation on the optical, thermal and electrical properties of the glass is studied. The optical, properties of the irradiated glasses vary significantly from those of the unirradiated glasses. All the peaks intensity increased with the increase of the irradiation doses except the peak at 280 nm where it is shifted to a higher wavelength upon irradiation, but its intensity decreased at the highest irradiation dose of 100 kGy. The optical energy band gap decreased with the increase of the irradiation dose for both direct and indirect Eg. FTIR spectra reveal IR vibrational bands which are characteristics to the three specific characteristic structural building units within the silicate glasses. The absorbance of peaks at 960, 1015 cm−1, which represents stretching NBOs (SiO2) and stretching of bridging oxygen (SiO4) respectively have been tracked. The increase of the band at 960 cm−1 can be stated to the increase in the amount of NBOs, when the glass samples are exposed to gamma irradiation. The thermal study showed that both Tg and Tc increased progressively upon irradiation. The increase in dielectric conductivity (DC) as the irradiation doses increase is attributed to the effect of ionizing radiation, which induces a photo-oxidation due to the excitation of the electrons in the lower valence. The obtained glasses seem to be promising materials and can be used in accident dosimetry applications or as potential dosimeter.