Investigation of a competent non-toxic Bi2O3- Li2O-CeO2- MoO3- B2O3 glass system for nuclear radiation security applications

Widespread commercialisation of nuclear radiation facilities in several areas mandates proper shielding design against harmful Gamma-rays, neutrons and charged particles. It is also necessary to eliminate highly toxic lead from shield material. Keeping these things in mind, the authors have prepared a Bi2O3 modified Li2O-CeO2-MoO3-B2O3 glass system by melt-quenching technique. The glass structure was probed from X-Ray Diffraction, Raman, Infrared and UV-Visible spectroscopy studies. The studied glass consists of BO3, BO4, BiO6 and MoO42- units. Gamma-ray shielding properties were studied both experimentally and theoretically. Exposure Buildup factor and neutron and charged particle (electrons, protons and Alpha particles) shielding properties were also investigated. It was found that our glass system can shield not only Gamma-rays but neutrons and charged particles too. It can, hence, be potentially useful for security applications in nuclear facilities especially in nuclear reactors.