Physical, optical, and ionizing radiation shielding parameters of Al(PO3)3-doped PbO-Bi2O3-B2O3 glass system

In this report, the physical, optical, and radiation shielding features of 65PbO-(20-x)B2O3-15Bi(2)O(3)-xAlO(9)P(3) (x: 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 mol%) glasses coded as PBB-Al0, PBB-Al1, PBB-Al2, and PBB-Al3, respectively, are presented. Gamma-ray linear and mass attenuation coefficients were estimated via FLUKA simulations and validated by XCOM calculations for photon energies between 0.1 and 10 MeV. Also, charged particles (electron (e(-)) proton (p(+)), alpha-particle (He2+) and carbon ion (C+)) attenuation competence, sigma(R),sigma(tot), and scattering cross-section for fast, thermal, and cold neutrons of the glasses were estimated. With an increase in AlO9P3 doping rate, the glass density rho(glass) exhibits a downward trend from 7.358 to 6.987 g.cm(-3) for PBB-Al0 to PBB-Al3, respectively. Contrary to this, the molar volume V-m grew from 36.06 to 39.77 cm(3).mol(-1), as a function of insertion ratio in AlO9P3 from 0 to 7.5 mol%. Optical parameters such as refractive index (n), dielectric constant (epsilon), molar refractivity (R-m), and molar polarizability (alpha(m)) of the glasses were found to vary depending on AlO9P3 content. Analysis of the obtained radiation shielding parameters revealed that gamma-ray shielding capacity of the glasses follows the trend PBB-Al0 > PBB-Al1 > PBB-Al2 > PBB-Al3. However, the influence of Al(PO3)(3) on the charged particle shielding abilities of the glasses was insignificant. Furthermore, sigma(R) ranged between 0.1095 and 0.11113 cm(-1). sigma(tot) for thermal neutron declined as the weight fraction of B, Pb, and Bi declined in the glasses. On the other hand, the scattering cross-section of cold neutrons in the glasses rose throughout the considered energy spectrum as Al(PO3)(3) concentration declined in the glass matrix. Comparatively, the investigated PBB-Alx glasses are superior gamma-ray photon shields than ordinary concrete, RS-360 commercial glass shield, P2 polymer, and some recently investigated glass shields. This study concludes that the presently investigated glasses have a significant role to play as alternative radiation shields in contemporary and future application of radiation.