Analysis of physical and mechanical traits and nuclear radiation transmission aspects of Gallium(III) trioxide constituting Bi2O3-B2O3 glasses

Abstract

For five Ga 2 O 3 -Bi 2 O 3 -B 2 O 3 composition glasses for improved Bi 2 O 3 content at 25 to 65 mol% (10% continuously each time) at a fixed 10 mol% Ga 2 O 3 amount, distinct physical and mechanical aspects and nuclear radiation attenuation factors were investigated. Increased Λ (optical basicity) values with a gradual Bi 2 O 3 addition indicate studied samples’ improving basic character. Applying BC (bond compression) model key mechanical traits such as Y bc (Young’s modulus), K bc (bulk modulus), S (shear modulus), L (longitudinal modulus), and σ (Poisson’s ratio) are evaluated where in all glasses 10Ga 2 O 3 -65Bi 2 O 3 -25B 2 O 3 (mol%) sample exhibits superior elastic moduli. Enhanced Bi 2 O 3 causes for compactness of the gallium borate network as ǹ c (average cross-link density) improves from 2.3 to 3.4 indicating increased rigidity of glasses. Later, PHITS, FLUKA, and MCNPX codes are wielded to derive μ/ρ (mass attenuation coefficient) of all selected samples for photons having energy ranging from 15 KeV to 15 MeV. Simulated μ/ρ quantities exactitude is tested via Phy-X/PSD and WinXCOM programs’ μ/ρ results and identified a fairly good harmony among them. With photon energy, MFP (mean free path), TVL (tenth-value layer), and HVL (half-value layer) values variations show a similar tendency and against the trend which noticed for μ/ρ and μ (linear attenuation coefficient) values. 10Ga 2 O 3 -65Bi 2 O 3 -25B 2 O 3 (mol%) sample’s MFP and HVL are correlated with five commercial γ -ray glass shields’ respective values at 1.25 MeV, 0.662 MeV ( 137 Cs), and 0.2 MeV energies. Further, Z eq (equivalent atomic number) and using G–P (geometric progression) fitting approach for ten individual PDs (penetration depths) within 1–40 mfp range at 15 – 15 × 10 3 KeV energy region BUFs (buildup factors) were estimated. Attained RPE (radiation protection efficiency) findings attest all chosen Ga 2 O 3 -Bi 2 O 3 -B 2 O 3 glasses’ competent absorption capacity for lower energy photons. Next, α -particles and protons MSPs (mass stopping powers), i.e. Ψ A and Ψ P and PRs (projected ranges), i.e. Φ A and Φ P by utilizing SRIM code as well as for electrons MSPs (Ψ E ) and CSDA (continuous slowing‐down approximation) ranges by ESTAR database have been calculated within 15–15 × 10 3 KeV KE (kinetic energy) range. Also, Σ R (fast neutron removal cross-section) and for 0.253 × 10 –4 KeV energy neutrons σ T (total cross-section) and SP (shielding percentage) values were approximated. With Bi 2 O 3 addition, realized Σ R is changed at 0.1161–0.1213 cm −1 extent. For thermal neutrons absorption, 10Ga 2 O 3 -25Bi 2 O 3 -65B 2 O 3 (mol%) glass shows larger σ T (=17.534 cm −1 ) and at any considered thickness higher SP whereas 10Ga 2 O 3 -65Bi 2 O 3 -25B 2 O 3 (mol%) (lead-free) glass has better attenuating features for photons affirming the incorporated Bi 2 O 3 favorable effect.

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