Impact of B2O3 on physical, optical characteristics and radiation attenuation factors of borotellurite glasses

Abstract

Boro-tellurite glasses with a composition [(60-X)TeO2-(20 + X)B2O3–10Li2O–10Bi2O3] where X = 5, 10, 15, 20 mol% have been synthesized. Glass density, molar volume, oxygen packing density, and many other physical parameters were measured. Ultraviolet (UV)-spectra in the wavelength range of 200–800 nm have been measured for the whole glass series. The optical energy band gap Eopt, refractive index, and optical basicity were measured. The mass absorption coefficients (μm) are determined experimentally by the HPGe detector and compared with the theoretical values obtained by the XCOM program and MCNP5 simulation code within 0.121–1.408 MeV photon energy range. Half value layer (HVL), effective atomic number and electron density (Zeff and Neff), and macroscopic removal cross-section (∑R) were evaluated. The sample [55TeO2 – 25B2O3 – 10Bi2O3 – 10Li2O] possess the highest values of (μm = 1.192 ± 0.033 cm2/g, Zeff = 56.12 e/atom and ∑ R = 0.101499 cm−1) at energy 121 keV also lower values of (HVL = 0.121 cm, TVL = 0.1 cm and MFP = 0.174 cm) at photon energy 121 keV. Therefore [55TeO2 – 25B2O3 – 10Bi2O3 – 10Li2O] glass sample is considered the best gamma-ray shielding material among the prepared glasses.

Keywords

• Glasses
• Optical properties
• Radiation shielding
• MCNP5 code
• XCOM software