Comparative Studies of IR Spectra, Optical and Thermal Properties of Binary CdO-B2O3, SrO-B2O3, and BaO-B2O3

Binary glasses of barium borate, strontium borate, and cadmium borate systems were prepared by melting and annealing techniques. Combined optical (UV-visible) and infrared absorption spectral measurements of the prepared glasses were carried out before and after gamma irradiation with a dose of 8 Mrad (8x10(4)Gy). Optical results reveal that the glasses possess excellent transmission in the visible region but the presence of unavoidable trace iron impurity within the chemicals even in the ppm level imparts strong absorption in the UV region. Infrared absorption spectra indicate the presence of both triangular and tetrahedral borate groups as structural building units which brings stability to the glassy network. Gamma irradiation causes limited induced defects due to the presence of heavy alkaline earth ions in high percent in their chemical composition (40 mol%) which confirms their usefulness as radiation shielding materials. Thermal properties of the prepared glassy samples were obtained by measuring their thermal expansion coefficients and deriving transformation and softening temperatures. The thermal data indicate that these glass systems can be used as promising sealing candidates.