Optical, Spectral, and Radiation-Shielding Properties of High-Lead Phosphate Glasses

The spectral, optical, physicochemical, radiative, and radiation-shielding properties of glasses in the PbO-P2O5-RmOn system (where RmOn stands for Group I–V element oxides) are investigated as a function of their composition. The composition of a colorless radiation-resistant high-lead glass suitable for production on a semicommercial scale is determined. The properties and optical quality parameters of the glass are studied. The new phosphate glass is a lead metaphosphate containing aluminum, alkali, and alkaline-earth oxides. This glass is resistant to radiation at doses up to 107 R and has an optical transmission edge at 360 nm. The coefficient of absorption of gamma radiation for the new glass is larger than those of dense silicate flints. According to the optical parameters, the new glass lies between dense flints and dense barium flints in the Abbe diagram and compensates for the absence of the latter flints in catalogues of radiation-resistant glasses.