Structural, mechanical, and nuclear radiation shielding properties of iron aluminoleadborate glasses

Glasses with the composition of 55B(2)O(3)-30Pb(3)O(4)-(15 - x)Al2O3-xFe(2)O(3), wherex:(0 <= x <= 5) were fabricated. The addition of Fe2O3 makes significant changes in the glasses' color. The emergence of Fe2O3 in a glass matrix enhances the structural network by raising the oxygen level, resulting in the transformation of BO3 into BO4 units. With the addition of Fe2O3 content, the values of elastic moduli demonstrated a significant increase. The Monte Carlo simulation code was utilized to evaluate the shielding parameters in an energy range between 0.15 and 1.408 MeV. Also, a theoretical calculation was used to evaluate the fast neutron removal cross section. The LAC values at 0.24, 0.662, and 1.173 MeV, were linearly enhanced with an increase in the Fe2O3 incrementation rate. The shortest relaxation length (lambda) values detected at 0.15 MeV, equal to 0.168, 0.157, 143, 0.130, and 0.121 cm for glass samples G1-G5, respectively, while the longest lambda equal 5.142, 4.793, 4.375, 3.941, and 3.654 cm for the G1-G5, respectively. The transmission factor (TF) decreases with the replacement of Al2O3 by Fe2O3. The TF of gamma photons through 1 cm of the G5 glass sample raised from 5.93 to 76.06% as the energy increased from 0.24 to 1.405 MeV.

Automated summary

The addition of Fe2O3 significantly changes the color of the glass and enhances the structural network. With the increase in Fe2O3 content, the elastic moduli values also increase significantly. Additionally, the fast neutron removal cross section and shielding parameters are increased with the increment of Fe2O3.