New gadolinium based glasses for gamma-rays shielding materials

In this work, Gd2O3 based glasses in compositions (80-x)B2O3-10SiO(2)-10CaO-xGd(2)O(3) (where x = 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mol%) have been fabricated and investigated for their radiation shielding, physical and optical properties. The density of the glass was found to increase with the increasing of Gd2O3 concentration. The experimental values of mass attenuation coefficients (mu m), effective atomic number (Z(eff)) and effective electron densities (N-e) of the glasses were found to increase with the increasing of Gd2O3 concentration and also with the decreasing of photon energy from 223 to 662 keV. The glasses of all Gd2O3 compositions studied have been shown with lower HVL values in comparison to an X-rays shielding window, ordinary concrete and commercial window; indicating their potential as radiation shielding materials with Pb-free advantage. Optical spectra of the glasses in the present study had been shown with light transparency; an advantage when used as radiation shielding materials. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.