Mechanical and gamma-ray shielding examinations of Bi2O3–PbO–CdO–B2O3 glass system

Abstract

Abstract Bi2O3–PbO–CdO–B2O3 glass samples were prepared via melt quenching. The substitution of Bi2O3 for B2O3 resulted in a continuous increase in density from 4.334 to 5.742 g/cm3. The molar volume (V m) gradually increased from 37.197 to 38.429 cm3/mol when the Bi2O3 level increased from 10 to 25 mol%. With the addition of Bi2O3 from 10 to 25 mol%, Young’s, bulk, shear, and longitudinal modulus reduced from 40.80 to 35.07 GPa, 22.92 to 19.97 GPa, 16.95 to 14.52 GPa, and 45.53 to 39.33 GPa, respectively. These glasses are bendable rather than elongated and can withstand longitudinal stress over shear stress. Radiation protection qualities were investigated using EpiXS software, which is based on the ENDF/B-VIII EPICS2017 library, between 122 and 1275 keV. The mass attenuation coefficients are substantially higher at low energies. The radiation shielding properties of Bi2O3–PbO–CdO–B2O3 glasses were improved by replacing B2O3 with Bi2O3. Quantifying this improvement is critical in developing compact radiation shielding employing this glass system.