Synergistic effects of Gd2O3 and SiO2 in enhancing the acoustic, mechanical, and shielding qualities of borate glasses

Abstract

This study comprehensively analyzes the gamma radiation shielding, mechanical, and acoustic properties of novel glass composites formulated from B2O3, SiO2, and Gd2O3. Utilizing the MCNPX simulation code and Phy-X: PSD software, key parameters such as Linear Attenuation Coefficient, Half Value Layer (HVL), Mean Free Path (MFP), and Effective Atomic Number (Zeff) were meticulously evaluated for three distinct glass compositions, denoted as GL-1, GL-2, and GL-3. The investigation revealed that incorporating Gd2O3 and SiO2 notably enhances the radiation shielding efficiency of these glasses, which is evident from the decreasing trends in HVL and MFP values across the series. Employing the Makishima and Mackenzie (MM) model, this study further delved into the mechanical and acoustic characteristics of the glass samples. An increase in Gd2O3 and SiO2 content, substituting B2O3, was observed to augment the bond dissociation energy and adjust the packing density, consequently improving the elastic moduli. These mechanical enhancements were quantified through measurements of Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and longitudinal modulus. Acoustic properties were also calculated, including Longitudinal and Transverse velocities, mean velocity, and acoustic impedance. These parameters demonstrated a consistent improvement correlating with the increasing rigidity and mechanical strength of the glass samples, particularly for the GL-3 composition. The study concludes that the GL-3 glass sample exhibits superior performance regarding gamma photon attenuation, mechanical robustness, and acoustic properties. This underscores its potential as an effective material for radiation shielding in various industrial applications, benefiting from its enhanced mechanical and acoustic features.