Gamma Radiation Shielding and Mechanical Studies on Highly Dense Lithium Iron Borosilicate Glasses Modified by Zinc Oxide

Five glass samples of a new zinc-iron lithiumborosilicate (LBSFZ) with the chemical formula 64.8B2O3–8.5SiO2–1.5Fe2O3 – (25.2 − x)Li2O - x ZnO x = (0 ≤ x ≤ 16 mol%), using the melt quenching technique has been synthesized. The amorphous phase is affirmed using an X-ray diffraction test. A pulse-echo methodology is utilized to investigate the mechanical features of glasses. With an increase in ZnO content, the LBSFZ glasses’ ultrasonic velocities and elastic moduli increased. Phy-X/PSD software was used to calculate the gamma shielding performance of the glasses by evaluating mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), mean free path (MFP), tenth and half-value layer (TVL), and (HVL). With an increase in ZnO concentration, the density, MAC, and LAC increased, whereas the molar volume, HVL, TVL, and MFP decreased. It can be concluded based on these results that ZnO in LBSFZ glasses are nontoxic and effective radiation shielding materials.