B2O3-Bi2O3-Li2O3-Cr2O3 glasses: fabrication, structure, mechanical, and gamma radiation shielding qualities

The impact of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) on the organizational, physical, mechanical, and photon shielding qualities of new chromium borate glasses with the chemical composition 50B2O3-25Bi2O3-25Li2O3-xCr2O3 (x=0 (Cr-00), 0.2 (Cr-0.2), 0.4 (Cr-0.4), 0.8 (Cr-0.8), and 1.5 (Cr-1.5) wt%) is investigated. The amorphous behavior of these glasses was verified via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scan electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of prepared glass samples revealed the presence of absorption bands due to Cr3+ ions. The density (ρglass) increased as the Cr2O3 concentration increased. The mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) of the proposed glasses were evaluated via the FLUKA code, XCOM program, and Phy-X/PSD software. The MACs values followed this trend: (MAC)Cr-00 < (MAC)Cr-0.2 < (MAC)Cr-0.4 < (MAC)Cr-0.8 < (MAC)Cr-1.5. At 0.015 MeV, the calculated linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values were 127.913, 133.559, 137.984, 147.034, and 156.212 cm-1 for the Cr-00, Cr-0.2, Cr-0.4, Cr-0.8, and Cr-1.5 glass samples, respectively. The half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) values followed this trend: (MAC,MFP)Cr-00 > (MAC,MFP)Cr-0.2 > (MAC,MFP)Cr-0.4 > (MAC,MFP)Cr-0.8 > (MAC,MFP)Cr-1.5. The Cr-00 glass sample had the lowest effective atomic number (Zeff) values, while the Cr-1.5 glass sample had the highest. The calculated exposure buildup factor (EBF) values decreased as the Cr2O3 content increased. The Cr-1.5 sample had a higher effective removal cross-section for fast neutrons (ΣR) value than other radiation shielding materials. The addition of Cr2O3 increased the rigidity and elastic constants (Young’s (Y), bulk (K), shear (G), and longitudinal (L) moduli) and improved the level of radiation shielding provided. The prepared glasses can be used as gamma and neutron shielding tools in the medical area.