Physical properties and gamma radiation shielding capability of highly dense binary bismuth borate glasses

Dense glasses in the binary bismuth-borate system, chi Bi2O3-(1-chi)B2O3 (BBO), chi = 0.25, 0.5, & 0.75 were prepared by conventional melt-quenching process at different temperatures. The melt was hot pressed between the stainless-steel plates to obtain dense glasses. The glasses obtained were optically clear, thermally stable and amorphous in nature. Transparent BBO glasses exhibited high density in the range of 5.5-8.29 g/cm(3) which is attributed to the high bismuth content and pressure induced compaction at high temperatures in the hot-pressed quenching. Gamma radiation shielding properties of the dense BBO glasses were investigated by calculating mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic number, and different buildup factors. Radiation shielding properties were calculated using the XCOM and Phy-X web software as a function of photon energy for all the glasses. Experimental mass-attenuation coefficients at different energies of the BBO glasses were determined through radiation transmission method. Measured mass-attenuation coefficients of the BBO glasses were in close agreement with the calculated values. Further, exposure and energy absorption buildup factors of the dense BBO glasses were studied at different penetration depths as a function of the photon energy. The results were compared with the heavy-metal oxide glasses reported in the literature and with respect to lead metal shield. Dense binary bismuth glass exhibited high mass-attenuation coefficients, and low half-value layer, and mean-free path which are comparable with the metal lead. The dense binary bismuth borate glasses reported here can be the excellent radiation shielding transparent simple glass system and promising for the radiological applications.