RETRACTED: Examinations of mechanical, and shielding properties of CeO2 reinforced B2O3–ZnF2–Er2O3–ZnO glasses for gamma-ray shield and neutron applications
Haifa A. Alyousef, Z.A. Alrowaili, Mohamed Saad, Hussain Almohiy, Abdulaziz A. Alshihri, Kh. S. Shaaban, M.S. Al-Buriahi, E. A. Abdel Wahab
Abstract
The glass system 75B 2 O 3 - 4.5ZnF 2 – 0.5 Er 2 O 3 – ( 20 − x ) ZnO- x CeO 2 , x = (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 mol. %) was manufactured using a melt quenching process, with CeO 2 substituted for ZnO in the glass matrix in concentrations ranging from 0 to 1 mol %. The Makishima–Mackenzie model and sound wave velocity measurements were used to evaluate the mechanical parameters and elastic characteristics of the examined glass system, respectively. The results showed that increasing CeO 2 doping ratio from 0 to 1 mol% increased density, sound velocities, elastic properties, and microhardness from 5.80 to 9.01 GPa. Phy-X/PSD software was employed to assess the effect of replacing ZnO with CeO 2 on shielding capacity. The obtained results revealed that replacing ZnO with CeO 2 enhances shielding characteristics and the manufactured glass may be useful in shielding applications.