Optical properties and photon-shielding performance of B2O3-based glasses

TThis work reports experimental and theoretical studies of the optical and photon shielding factors of a borate glass system with the chemical structure: TiO2:3CaO:Al2O3:15Na(2)O (80-x) B2O3:xZnO (x = 0, 5, 10 and 15 wt.%). The molar refractivity , molar polarization alpha Mol , reflectance loss, optical transmission, metallization criterion, and static dielectric constant were calculated via UV spectroscopy based on the standard formula while the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and mass energy absorption coefficient (MEAC) were obtained from XCOM for gamma ray energies 0.015-15 MeV. All estimated parameters showed dependence on the chemical stoichiometry of the glasses. The R-m and alpha(Mol )of the glasses decreased from 15.34 - 13.51 cm(3)/mol and 6.23 - 5.41 x10(-24) cm(3) respectively. The MAC fluctuated within the values of 0.01819-2.65347 cm(2)/g, 0.01884-5.86148 cm(2)/g, 0.01949-9.06948 cm(2)/g and 0.0201312.27748 cm(2)/g while the MEAC varied between 0.01364-2.77151 cm(2)/g, 0.01408-5.17928 cm(2)/g, 0.01451-7.58705 cm(2)/g and 0.01495-9.99482 cm2/g for ZnO concentration of 0 - 15 wt% respectively. The present glass system showed good radiation shielding potential for transparent photon absorption functions especially at low photon energies.

Automated summary

This study reports experimental and theoretical studies on the optical and photon shielding factors of a borate glass system. The results show that the glass system has good radiation shielding potential, especially at low photon energies.