Role of Al2O3, WO3, Nb2O5, and PbO on the physical, elasto-mechanical and radiation attenuation performance of borotellurite glasses

This work intended to determine the contribution of different rare-earth elements (W6+, Nb5+, and Pb2+) with respect to Al3+ effects and on physical, structural, mechanical and shielding performance of different types of borotellurite glasses. Accordingly, nine different borotellurite glasses from the system: 5M(x)O(y) - zAl(2) O-3 - 20B(2)O(3) - (75 - z)TeO2 (where MxOy = WO3, Nb2O5, and PbO) and three glasses of the chemical form zAl(2) O-3 - 20B(2)O(3) - (80 - z)TeO2; where (x, y, z) = 0, 5, and 10 mol% compositions were comprehensively examined for of their nuclear attenuation shielding performance, along with physical, thermodynamic and mechanical properties. The results revealed that these rare-earth ions have different effects on the mechanical and shielding properties of borotellurite glasses against ionizing radiation. W6+, Nb5+ and Pb2+ increased the borotellurite mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values and enhanced the radiation protection efficiency of the glass, however Al3+ decreased it. These findings pointed that W-reinforced borotellurite glass composition, namely 5WO(3)-5Al(2)O(3)-20B(2)O(3)-70TeO(2) 40Bi(2)O(3) with density of 4.77 g/cm(3) had superior gamma-ray attenuation performance. These correlated findings between the radiation shielding performance, chemical, physical, structural, and mechanical properties may open a door for engineers to design glasses using rare-earth oxides as additive components for special needs.