Na-Gd phosphate glasses -: Preparation, thermal and scintillating properties

The present paper deals with preparation, thermal properties and radioluminescence of Ce-doped Na-Gd phosphate glasses. Thanks to their high radioluminescence intensity, three times greater than that of BGO, these glasses are promising materials for the detection of neutrons, gamma- and X-rays. The glasses with a Gd concentration up to 89 mol% were prepared by a rapid quenching technique in air. Their thermal properties were determined using DSC and temperatures of glass transition were measured in addition using TMA. Temperatures of glass transition, crystallization and melting depend on Gd concentration and they follow the liquidus line in a phase diagram of binary system in which two eutectics and a congruently melting compound exist. High glass-forming ability of this glass system was found evidenced. The glasses containing at least 30 mol% Gd were moisture resistant.