Effect of CoO and Gamma Irradiation on the Infrared Absorption Spectra of Lithium Borate Glasses

Undoped and cobalt-doped lithium borate glasses (LBG) of various compositions, by varying cobalt contents were prepared by a conventional melt quenching technique. The density and molar volumes of the glass samples were estimated and; infrared absorption spectra were measured in the spectral range 400–1600 cm−1before and after an irradiation dose of 50 kGy and 200 kGy. Experimental results showed that the density of studied samples increased as CoO increased while the molar volume decreased. FT-IR spectra of the prepared samples have been analyzed by the deconvolution of the spectra. A deconvolution technique is presented to make use of the BO4 data and follow the change in the modifier and former fractions of CoO. FTIR was also used to study the glass system before and after gamma irradiation. The experimental results clearly indicate that after irradiation a significant change in the structure of the LBG glass network is observed. The modifying action of CoO on the glass composition is also studied. The glasses doped with 5 wt% of CoO are relatively more radiation resistant than the other compositions.