Gamma-ray Shielding Properties Research Articles

A detailed study on the physical, mechanical, structural and gamma ray shielding properties of Al2O3-Na2O-SiO2-B2O3-Bi2O3glass system

A detailed study on the physical, mechanical, structural and gamma ray shielding properties of Al2O3-Na2O-SiO2-B2O3-Bi2O3glass system

Structural, elastic and gamma-ray attenuation properties of potassium borate glasses doped with BaO, Bi2O3, or Pb3O4: A comparative assessment

This study investigates the effect of substituting boron oxide (B2O3) with heavy metal oxides (HEMOs) on the structural, mechanical, and gamma-ray shielding properties of potassium borate (KB) glass systems. The glass compositions analyzed include 80B2O3–20K2O and 65B2O3–20K2O-15HEMO (where, HEMO = BaO, Bi2O3, or Pb3O4). All samples were prepared using the melt-quenching method, and their amorphous nature was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) had revealed BO3, BO4, and BiO6 groups beside the B–O–B linkages. The density increased with the addition of HEMOs, following the order: Pb3O4 (KB4) > Bi2O3 (KB3) > BaO (KB2) > and pure KB (KB1). This trend was also observed in the molar volume (Vₘ) and oxygen molar volume (Vₒ), while the oxygen packing density (Pρ) decreased. Mechanical properties assessed using the Makishima-Mackenzie model indicated that KB3 exhibited the highest elastic modulus (Yₘ) and Poisson's ratio (μ). The microhardness (Hₘ) followed the sequence KB2 > KB3 > KB4 > KB1, attributed to the higher bonding energy in KB2. Gamma-ray shielding parameters, including mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), were calculated using Phy-X and XCOM software for photon energies between 0.2835 MeV and 1.333 MeV. KB4 (Pb3O4) showed superior shielding performance with the highest linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) and the lowest half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP). Despite KB4's high density, KB3 (Bi2O3) is suggested as a more suitable candidate for radiation shielding applications due to its balanced combination of mechanical strength and γ-ray attenuation efficiency.

Engineering multifunctional polypropylene nanocomposites: Tailoring structural, thermal, and gamma-ray shielding properties with Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 doping

This study delves into the structural, thermal and shielding processing of polypropylene (PP) modified with Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 NPs, synthesized via melt processing. The structural analysis confirms the effective integration of Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 NPs into the PP matrix, leading to enhanced thermal stability. Furthermore, the impact of incorporating Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 NPs on the radiation shielding properties of the fabricated PP-based composites was assessed using Monte Carlo simulation. The results reveal a significant increase in the linear attenuation coefficient of the composites with higher concentrations of Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 NPs, resulting in improved radiation shielding efficiency, particularly at lower gamma-ray energies.

Synthesis, physical, optical, and transmission properties of terbium oxide-reinforced quinary borate glasses for radiation protection

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of borate glasses doped with varying concentrations of Terbium oxide (Tb4O7). Using the conventional melt-quench method, we investigated the effects of Tb4O7 on the physical, optical, gamma-ray shielding, and mechanical properties of the glass samples. Our findings indicate a significant increase in density with higher Tb4O7 content, attributed to the high molecular weight and density of Tb4O7. Optical properties assessed through UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed increased absorption intensity, a red shift in the absorption edge, and a decrease in the optical band gap, demonstrating enhanced optical absorption and refractive indices. Gamma-ray shielding effectiveness, evaluated using mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layers, and mean free paths, showed superior performance with higher Tb4O7 concentrations. The effective atomic number also increased, enhancing gamma-ray attenuation capabilities. Additionally, the elastic modulus of the glasses improved with higher Tb4O7 content, providing better mechanical stability. Our findings indicate that the density increased from 3.52 g/cm³ for undoped samples to 3.92 g/cm³ for the glass containing 2 mol% Tb4O7. Optical absorption measurements revealed a red shift in the absorption edge from 345.46 nm to 369.54 nm, with a corresponding decrease in the optical band gap from 3.48 eV to 3.18 eV. Gamma-ray shielding performance improved significantly, with the mass attenuation coefficient (GMAC) rising from 0.115 cm2/g to 0.162 cm2/g, while the half-value layer (GHVL) decreased from 3.22 cm to 2.86 cm. Additionally, the elastic modulus increased by 11.58 % as Tb4O7 content increased. These results suggest that Tb4O7-doped borate glasses significantly improve density, optical absorption, gamma-ray shielding, and mechanical strength. Finally, Increasing Tb4O7 content in borate glasses substantially enhances their multifunctional properties, making them suitable for advanced radiation shielding applications.

Effect of replacing B2O3 with CuO on the structural, optical absorption, thermal, mechanical, and gamma-ray shielding properties of B2O3–Bi2O3–K2O glass

This paper delves into the effect of replacing B2O3 with CuO on the structural, optical absorption, thermal, mechanical, and gamma(γ)-ray shielding properties of four CKB glasses formulated as (65-y)B2O3–15Bi2O3–20K2O-yCuO (where y = 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 mol%). The glasses were created using the melt-quenching technique, and their non-crystalline structure was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified several structural groups, predominantly consisting of BO3, BO4 units, and B–O–B linkages. Thermal properties, assessed via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), indicated that the glass transition temperature was highest for the 0.3 mol% CuO sample (CKB0.3), demonstrating enhanced thermal stability in comparison to other compositions. Density measurements correlated positively with CuO concentration, peaking at 1.2 mol%, while molar volume, boron molar volume, oxygen packing density, and boron-boron separation distances showed a decreasing trend with increased CuO concentration. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy indicated a decline in the optical energy gap and an increase in Urbach energy, attributed to the conversion of BO3 into BO4 units in the glass matrix. Mechanical properties, evaluated using the Makishima-Mackenzie model, demonstrated enhancements in elastic moduli and micro-hardness with rising CuO concentration. The γ-ray shielding properties (γ-RPs) were examined at energies of 0.662, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV, revealing that both the linear attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number reached their maximum values at 1.2 mol% CuO (CKB1.2). While CKB1.2 exhibited excellent mechanical and γ-ray shielding performance, CKB0.3 excelled in thermal stability and demonstrated γ-ray shielding efficiency comparable to CKB1.2. This suggests that CKB0.3 is a promising candidate for radiation shielding applications requiring a balanced combination of thermal stability and effective γ-ray attenuation properties, particularly at 0.662 MeV.

Optical and gamma-ray shielding properties of calcium sodium borate glasses with varied equal concentrations of ZnO and BaO

This study presents the optical and radiation shielding characteristics of a newly developed borate glass, doped with equal quantities of ZnO and BaO, and modified with calcium and sodium. The glass samples were prepared using the melt quenching technique, with the composition formula (80-x-y)B2O3-10CaO-10Na2O-xZnO-yBaO, where x and y were varied at 5, 10, 15, and 20 mol%. Comprehensive analyses of the optical and gamma shielding properties were carried out using UV–visible spectrophotometry and Phy-X software, respectively. The UV–visible spectroscopic data allowed for the calculation of various parameters including the direct and indirect optical energy band gaps, refractive index, dielectric constants, and polarizability. It was observed that the direct optical energy band gap decreased from 3.91 to 3.10 eV, while the indirect band gap fell from 3.41 to 2.91 eV with increasing ZnO and BaO content. Conversely, the refractive index rose from 2.29 to 2.42 with higher concentrations of ZnO and BaO. The linear attenuation coefficients (LACs) across the range of 0.015–15 MeV exhibited an inverse relationship. Among the glass samples, B40Zn20Ba20 exhibited the lowest tenth value layer (TVL) and the highest effective atomic number (Zeff), indicating its superior performance as a radiation shielding material. Overall, the produced glass samples demonstrate commendable properties for both optical applications and radiation shielding.

Investigation of the gamma ray shielding properties of Epoxy based on Bi2O3/GO nanocomposite

Abstract One of the important carbon materials, graphene oxide (GO), has several oxygen-containing functional groups. Due to its unique structure, it has attracted increasing interest in multidisciplinary studies of physical and chemical attributes. In this work, Bismuth Oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3) is prepared and functionalized with graphene oxide nanosheets (Bi2O3-GO). The Bi2O3 and Bi2O3-GO nanocomposite were mixed with epoxy by changing the percentages to 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. The study used a hyper-pure germanium detector to investigate the attenuation characteristics of the prepared samples. Ba133, Cs137, and Co60 point sources were used at photon energies of 81, 276, 302, 356, and 383 keV for Ba133, 661 keV for Cs137, and 1173 and 1332 keV for Co60. The linear attenuation coefficient, mass attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, and tenth-value layer were estimated to investigate the radiation shielding characteristics of the prepared samples. The linear attenuation coefficient (μ) values varied from 0.45 to 0.88, 0.23 to 0.89, and 0.31 to 0.77 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. The mass attenuation coefficient (μm) values varied from 0.18 to 0.50, 0.19 to 0.50, and 0.15 to 0.50 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. Half-value layer (HVL) values varied from 0.79 to 1.55, 0.78 to 3.07, and 0.9 to 2.26 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively. Tenth-value layer (TVL) values varied from 2.61 to 5.16, 2.58 to 10.19, and 2.98 to 7.51 for Ba133, Cs137, and Co60, respectively.

Enhanced gamma-ray shielding capabilities of Bi-Se-Ge chalcogenide glasses: analytical and simulation insights

This study investigates the gamma-ray shielding properties of Bi-Se-Ge chalcogenide glasses using advanced computational tools. The Phy-X/PSD and FLUKA programs were utilized to determine critical shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficient ( GLAC ), mass attenuation coefficient ( GMAC ), half-value layer ( GHVL ), mean free path ( GMFP ), and effective atomic number ( Zeff ). Our findings reveal that these glasses exhibit superior shielding capabilities compared to traditional materials. For instance, the GMAC values for the glasses ranged from 101.472 cm2/g to 177.475 cm2/g at a photon energy of 0.015 MeV. Additionally, the GHVL values decreased significantly with increasing Bi content, from 4.082 cm to 3.104 cm at an energy level of 15 MeV. The effective atomic number ( Zeff ) also increased from 36.12 to 53.23 with higher Bi concentrations. These insights, derived from precise computational analysis, highlight the potential of Bi-Se-Ge glasses for applications in radiation protection. The discussion also examines the impact of substituting Bi atoms with Se on the shielding capabilities of the original Bi-Se-Ge glass.Future work will focus on experimental validation of these results to further substantiate our findings.

Analyzing neutron and gamma ray shielding properties in varied W-B2O3 ratios: methodological comparisons and Monte Carlo simulation

This study aims to comprehensively assess the radiation shielding efficacy of W-B2O3 composite material across varying ratios, contrasting its performance with glass and established literature data. The investigation involves comparing the radiation shielding capabilities of these materials using Geant4-based GATE simulation, XCOM, and EpiXS programs across energy levels ranging from 0.3–2.516 MeV. The research involved calculating and comparing the effective removal cross-section values of these materials with those commonly employed in neutron shielding. The findings indicate superior radiation shielding capabilities in the composite material compared to glass. Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficients were derived through GATE simulation at energy levels of 6 and 18 MV mono and spectrum energy. These values were then compared with theoretical methods; XCOM, XMuDat, and an innovative methodology outlined in the current literature. In the new approach, the effective atomic numbers of the materials were determined using the mass attenuation coefficients.

Photon and thermal neutron shielding behaviors of aluminum calcium fluoroborate glass modified with barium oxide: FLUKA Monte Carlo, XCOM and experimental investigations

The borate glass system was prepared using the melt-quenching method. The XRD was used to confirm the amorphous structure of present samples, the FTIR was utilized to observe vibration modes, and the UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer was employed to measure transmittance spectra. The radiation shielding properties were examined by FLUKA Monte Carlo simulation, XCOM programs, and experimental methods. The density increased, while the molar volume decreased as the BaO content increased. For the X-ray and gamma-ray radiation, indicate that the addition of BaO instead of B2O3 improve the shielding properties, while the Σ is decreased for thermal neutron radiation. According to the results, adding BaO enhanced the X-ray and gamma-ray shielding properties. However, adding BaO led to the reduces its ability of shielding the thermal neutrons of the glass samples. These data are expected to be accommodate to considering for any applications which requires high efficiency of photon or thermal neutrons shielding.

Improved mechanical, magnetic and radiation shielding performance of rubbery polymer magnetic nanocomposites through incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles

The current research investigates the impact of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (3–12 wt%) on the properties of rubbery polymer nanocomposites fabricated via melt blending method. The tensile and impact properties were improved at an optimal 6 wt% Fe3O4, revealing a good interfacial interaction. Fe3O4 enhanced the thermal stability, as evidenced by the increased integral procedure decomposition temperature up to 26 %. Fe3O4 increased residual and saturated magnetization the most at 6 wt% loading. The gamma-ray shielding properties were explored with energy ranging from 0.2835 to 2.506 MeV, and effectively at low energies. Increased Fe3O4 content correlated positively with linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), enhancing radiation shielding but reducing neutron shielding. At 0.2835 MeV, the LAC values increased up to 0.12431 cm−1 for 12 wt% Fe3O4, while the fast neutron removal cross-section values decreased from 0.10427 cm−1 to 0.08548 cm−1. These findings highlight the multifunctional potential of Fe3O4-incorporated nanocomposites in radiation shielding applications.

Evaluation of gamma rays shielding properties of bismuth tungstate with different morphologies

To develop lead-free gamma-ray shielding material, bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) nanocrystals were synthesized under different conditions of precursor solution by hydrothermal method and composite material based on polyurethane and bismuth tungstate nanocrystals were prepared and evaluated using gamma ray sources in this study. The effects of crystal structure and morphology on the gamma ray shielding properties of bismuth tungstate were specially investigated. Results indicated that pH value of precursors solution had significant effect on the synthesis of bismuth tungstate: orthorhombic Bi2WO6 were obtained under acidic or neutral conditions while tetragonal Bi0.875W0.125O1.6875 were obtained under strongly alkaline condition. With the increase of pH value, the morphology of bismuth tungstate changed from flower-like microspheres to persimmon-like microstructures, and then to randomly stacked nanosheets. Bismuth tungstate nanocrystals were added to polyurethane to prepare flexible gamma-ray shielding material and the gamma ray shielding properties were also tested with energy of 59.5 keV, 81.0 keV and 121.8 keV. For orthorhombic persimmon-like bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) which were produced under weak acidic or neutral condition (pH = 2, 5, 7), it was found that the linear attenuation coefficient of gamma ray grew by about 8 % when pH changing from 2 to 7 for all energy tested. While for tetragonal bismuth tungstate (Bi0.875W0.125O1.6875), weakly alkaline condition (pH = 9) induced significant decrease (9 %@59.5 keV, 17 %@81.0 keV and 11 %121.8 keV) of linear attenuation coefficient compared with neutral condition, which could be explained by the dramatic crystal structure change of bismuth tungstate. More alkaline synthesizing condition would make finer granularity of bismuth tungstate and the linear attenuation coefficient increased when pH change from 9 to 12. In addition, obvious differences of mechanical properties were also observed between the composites prepared using different crystalline bismuth tungstates. The results of this study provide a reference for the development of new flexible radiation shielding materials with non-toxicity, light weight and high efficiency.

Structural, thermo-mechanical, optical and gamma-ray shielding properties of lead-free BaO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 and lead-based PbO–Bi2O3–K2O–SiO2 glasses

Lead-free BaO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 glass (BZBS) and lead-based PbO–Bi2O3–K2O–SiO2 glass (LS) were synthesized by melt quench technique. Glass samples were irradiated using 60Co gamma source up to 50 kGy dose to study the changes in structural, thermo-mechanical, optical and gamma ray shielding properties. Measured density values of both the glasses were greater than 4.0 g/cc. X Ray Diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed amorphous nature of prepared glasses before and after gamma irradiation. The structural changes induced by gamma irradiation were also investigated using Raman, Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. PALS data revealed increase in free volume/voids after irradiation. Defect studies carried using EPR spectroscopy confirmed formation of electron trap centre in BZBS glass, whereas in LS glass in addition to the electron trap centers, non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHC) and peroxy radical defects were also observed. Investigations on thermo-mechanical properties demonstrated higher glass transition temperature (Tg), hardness and modulus of elasticity values for BZBS glass as compared to the LS glass, which were found to be decreased after irradiation because of radiation induced defects. Visible transparency and band gap for BZBS glass were found to be higher than that in LS glass. After irradiation, colour change, reduction in transparency as well as band gap, and red shift in absorption edge were observed due to the formation of defects in both the glasses. The values of radiation induced absorption (α) at three different visible wavelengths have been determined for 50 kGy dose using UV–Vis transmission data. Analysis of refractive index data showed around 12 % reflection losses for both the glasses. Annealing of irradiated samples using UV light source showed significant improvement in transparency. Linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) was calculated using XCOM program and experimentally measured using 60Co 1.33 MeV gamma ray. Linear attenuation coefficient of BZBS glass was around 0.20 cm−1 whereas for LS glass value was 0.24 cm−1. Half value layer thickness of prepared glasses was also compared with available standard materials and it was found that prepared glasses may be suitable for shielding of high energy gamma rays.

Impact of bismuth oxide on structural, optical and gamma-ray shielding properties of calcium-sodium-borate glasses.

In the present study, we have prepared six glass samples of bismuth borate using the melt-quenching method with the composition (70-x)B2O3-10CaO-20Na2O-xBi2O3; x=0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15mol%. The density of the prepared glasses was determined using Archimedes principle. The X-ray diffraction patterns provide confirmation of the amorphous nature of the prepared samples, whereas the Fourier transform infrared measurements pointed to the existence of structural units like BO3, BO4, BiO3 and BiO6 within the glass network. An assessment of the optical absorption spectra unveiled that with the increase in the bismuth oxide content, there was a decrease observed in both the direct and indirect band gap energies. Specifically, they decreased from 3.40 to 2.79eV and from 3.10 to 2.46eV, respectively. The properties related to gamma ray attenuation, including the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), effective atomic number (Zeff), half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP), were examined for all the glass samples. This investigation was carried out using the Phy-X/PSD software, covering the energy range from 0.511 to 1.332MeV. Out of all the samples, Bi-15, featuring the highest Bi2O3 content, demonstrated the highest μm, Zeff, the smallest HVL and MFP. These results suggest that the glass with 15mol% of Bi2O3 offers the most effective gamma radiation shielding performance. Moreover, the glasses examined in this study exhibit superior radiation shielding characteristics compared with specific concrete types, namely, ordinary concrete, Hematite serpentine concrete and barite concrete, as well as commercial glasses such as RS-360 and RS-253.

Photon shielding properties of oxyfluoride aluminophosphate glass added with Sb2O3 by using PHITS Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methods

The glass formula (65-x)P2O5–5CaF2–10NaF–10KF–10AlF3-xSb2O3 (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) were produced by melt quenching technique for photon shielding application. The present glasses were investigated for the physical, structural, optical, gamma ray and x-ray shielding properties. The results revealed that the density increased when concentrations of Sb2O3 increased, the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results illustrated the functional groups of vibrations, and confirmed the amorphous behavior, respectively. The transmission spectra of present glasses showed higher transparency than x-ray windows. The comparative studies of gamma-ray between experiment and theoretical, the mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), effective atomic number (Zeff), and effective electron density (Neff) were increased with increasing concentration of Sb2O3. On the other hand, the half value layer (HVL) was decreased. The energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) of dopant Sb2O3 in present glass were calculated and discussed in terms of energy and concentration of Sb2O3. As a result of using the X-ray source, the HVL was decreased with a rise in Sb2O3 contents. HVL value at 15 mol% of Sb2O3 concentration is higher than the standard materials at 120 kVp. The Sb2O3 glass systems can be a candidate for radiation shielding material.

Composite based on Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) with lead-titanate for gamma attenuation

The radioprotective ability of composite materials based on a poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) matrix with dispersed lead titanate filler has been estimated. The filler was obtained from the environmentally friendly synthesis based on exchanging potassium ions for lead in potassium titanates. The gamma ray protective composites have low density, good mechanical qualities and are able to be reprocessed by high-performance extrusion or injection molding techniques. The present work is dedicated to assess mechanical and gamma ray shielding properties of poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) composites with different lead titanate content (70, 80 and 90 wt percent of lead titanate). The study was carried out for the emission of 137Cs, 60Co and 241Am isotopes with energies 0.6617 MeV, 1.332/1.173 MeV and 0.0595 MeV respectively. The study of radiation-protective properties showed that for 137Cs radiation half value layer for the composite containing 90 wt% of lead titanate is three times higher than for neat lead: 2.1 and 0.7 cm respectively. For the 60Co emission, these values are more close: 1.9 cm for 90 wt% composite and 1.2 cm for lead. The layer of 0.5 cm of composite with 70 % lead titanate almost fully diminishes the low-energetic 241Am radiation, and hence, is superior to lead foil of the same length. Mass attenuation coefficients of 70% composite for 0.6617 MeV, 1.332/1.173 MeV and 0.0595 MeV are 0.088, 0.046 and 2.487 cm2/g respectively. The tensile elongation at fracture decrease is 460% for 70/30 lead titanate/poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) and is equal to 6% for 90/10 lead titanate/poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate).

Impacts of the calcinated clay on structure and gamma-ray shielding capacity of epoxy-based composites

Abstract The current work aims to develop a new composite-based epoxy doped with calcinated clay for low and intermediate gamma-ray energy applications. The increased calcinated clay material concentration between 0 and 60 wt% enhances the constructed composites by 21.07%, from 1.139 ± 0.011 to 1.379 ± 0.013 g·cm−3. Moreover, new bonds have appeared in Fourier transform infrared analyses of fabricated composites, which confirm the diffusion and interactions between the calcinated clay material and epoxy resin. Furthermore, the impacts of the calcinated clay on the gamma-ray shielding properties were examined experimentally using the NaI (Tl) detector over an energy interval changing from 33 to 1,408 keV. The experimental examinations depict that the addition of calcinated clay with concentrations between 0 and 60 wt% enhances the developed composites’ linear attenuation coefficient by 67.9%, 24.5%, 35.9%, and 46.0% at gamma-ray energies of 81, 662, 1,275, and 1,408 keV, respectively. The improvement in the linear attenuation coefficient leads to a decrease in the required half-value layer for each composite, where it decreased between 4.82–3.87 cm (at 662 keV) and 7.63–5.22 cm (at 1,408 keV).

Development of the ferric oxide-based polyester composites for radiation protection applications: an extensive experimental analysis for its fabrication, characterization, and gamma-ray shielding properties

Development of the ferric oxide-based polyester composites for radiation protection applications: an extensive experimental analysis for its fabrication, characterization, and gamma-ray shielding properties

Newly developed CeO2 and Gd2O3-reinforced borosilicate glasses from municipal waste ash and their optical, structural, and gamma-ray shielding properties

From the useless municipal solid waste (MSW) ashes, CeO2, Gd2O3 and CeO2 + Gd2O3 doped borosilicate glasses were organized via melting-quenching procedure. Various optical, structural, physical and radiation shielding parameters were examined towards the influence of 100 kGy of γ-radiation. UV–visible NIR spectra revealed UV peaks at 351, 348 and 370 nm corresponding to the trivalent states of Ce3+ and Gd3+ ions, while, photoluminescence (PL) spectra displayed asymmetric broad excitations of Ce3+ and Gd3+ ions due to 4f → 5d transitions, and emission intense bands at 412, 434, and 417 nm. CIE chromaticity shows that Gd3+ ions increase the luminescence of Ce3+. FTIR absorption bands revealed an overlapping between tetrahedral groups of silicate (SiO4), with trigonal (BO3) and tetrahedral (BO4) units of borate. The influence of 100 kGy obtains quite reduction in UV–visible NIR and PL peaks, large stability in FTIR and ESR spectra, and stability of thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) as well. The whole data revealed optical, structural and physical stability of glasses after irradiation besides an enhancement in microhardness owing to more structural compactness and high bonding connectivity. Radiation shielding parameters from Phy-X/PSD program showed higher values of mass (MAC) and linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), and effective atomic number (Zeff) in the order of; glass Ce+Gd > glass Ce > glass Gd. Ce + Gd doped glass revealed also the lowest half value layer (HVL) comparing to other shielding commercial concretes. The study recommends the beneficial and economical use of the useless MSW ash to produce CeO2 and/or Gd2O3 borosilicate glasses with hopeful radiation shielding features.

Optical and radiation shielding properties of Europium doped Alkaline-Earth Boro Tellurite glasses

This research investigates the influence of Europium (Eu3+) ions concentrations on the optical, radiation shielding characteristics and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Alkaline Earth Boro Tellurite (AEBT) glasses. Absorption measurements of Eu3+ions doped AEBT glasses were used to determine the bonding parameters between the ligands and the ions. Excitation wavelength (394 nm) was used to record the PL spectra of the as prepared glasses , and analyzed for the dependent radiative characteristics and J-O parameters. The experimental lifetime (τexp) and radiative lifetimes (τR) of the as-prepared glass samples were estimated from the PL decay spectral profiles of the 5D0 level recorded at 613 nm emission under 394 nm excitation, and the quantum efficiency was then calculated. Based on its relatively higher values of the stimulated emission cross-sections and quantum efficiency, as well as its intense red luminescence at 613 nm (5D0 →7F2), the 1.0 mol% of Eu3+ ions doped AEBT glass is considered as a good optical material. In addition, the gamma-ray shielding properties have also been investigated at different photon energies ranging from 0.015 to 15 MeV using Phy-X software. From the results it is contemplated that, AEBTEu2.5 glass has the potential with better radiation absorption compared to regular concrete and other glass systems. The as prepared glasses are also suitable for optoelectronic device applications in addition to radiative shielding applications.