Mechanical properties, elastic moduli, transmission factors, and gamma-ray-shielding performances of Bi₂O₃–P₂O₅–B₂O₃–V₂O₅ quaternary glass system

Abstract

Abstract Mechanical properties, elastic moduli, transmission factors (TFs), and gamma-ray shielding performance of quaternary glass systems with chemical composition (0.25− x )Bi 2 O 3 – x B 2 O 3 −0.75(50%P 2 O 5 −50%V 2 O 5 ), where x = 0.05 (S1), 0.10 (S2), 0.15 (S3), and 0.20 (S4) mol%, were comprehensively studied. The MCNPX code, Phy-X/PSD software, and the Makishima–Mackenzie model were utilized to achieve the mentioned purposes. The values of the packing density ( V t ) decreased from 0.634432 to 0.600611, while those of the dissociation energy ( G t ) increased from 51.6125 kJ/cm 3 for the S1 glass sample (with Bi 2 O 3 = 5 mol%) to 56.7525 kJ/cm 3 for the S4 glass sample (with Bi 2 O 3 = 20 mol%). This means that the mechanical properties were enhanced by increasing the Bi 2 O 3 content in glasses. Linear ( µ ) and mass attenuation ( µ m ) coefficients for the S4 glass sample were the greatest compared to those for glass materials investigated, i.e., ( µ , µ m ) S1 < ( µ , µ m ) S2 < ( µ , µ m ) S3 < ( µ , µ m ) S4 . Half- and tenth-value layers (HVL and TVL, respectively) follow the trend: (HVL, TVL) S1 > (HVL, TVL) S2 > (HVL, TVL) S3 > (HVL, TVL) S4 . The effective atomic number ( Z eff ) of investigated glasses has the same trend as of linear and mass attenuation coefficients. Our findings indicate that increasing the amount of Bi 2 O 3 reinforcement decreased the exposure buildup factor and energy absorption buildup factor values for all mean free path values (0.5–40 mfp). All glasses recorded the minimum TF values at a thickness of 3 cm. The findings would benefit the scientific community in determining the most appropriate additive bismuth( iii ) oxide/diboron trioxide type and related glass composition to provide the shielding properties previously mentioned in terms of needs and utilization requirements, as well as the most suitable glass composition.