Examinations of mechanical, and shielding properties of CeO2 reinforced B2O3–ZnF2–Er2O3–ZnO glasses for gamma-ray shield and neutron applications

Abstract

The glass system 75B2O3 - 4.5ZnF2 – 0.5 Er2O3–(20−x) ZnO- x CeO2, x = (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 mol. %) was manufactured using a melt quenching process, with CeO2 substituted for ZnO in the glass matrix in concentrations ranging from 0 to 1 mol %. The Makishima–Mackenzie model and sound wave velocity measurements were used to evaluate the mechanical parameters and elastic characteristics of the examined glass system, respectively. The results showed that increasing CeO2 doping ratio from 0 to 1 mol% increased density, sound velocities, elastic properties, and microhardness from 5.80 to 9.01 GPa. Phy-X/PSD software was employed to assess the effect of replacing ZnO with CeO2 on shielding capacity. The obtained results revealed that replacing ZnO with CeO2 enhances shielding characteristics and the manufactured glass may be useful in shielding applications.

Keywords

• CeO2
• Er2O3 glasses
• Mechanical properties
• Radiation shielding