Fabrication, physical, structure characteristics, neutron and radiation shielding capacity of high-density neodymio-cadmium lead-borate glasses: Nd2O3/CdO/PbO/B2O3/Na2O

Abstract

High-density glasses of neodymio-cadmium lead borate of chemical composition xNd(2)O(3)/20CdO/20PbO/(57-x)B2O3/3Na(2)O, where (0 (0Nd) <= x <= 5 (5Nd) wt%) have been fabricated by a melt quenching process. Physical, structure properties as well as gamma-radiation and neutron shielding effectiveness in wide photon energy range 0.015-15 MeV have been examined. The amorphous nature of xNd-glasses was confirmed, where there was a lack of their crystallinity. Density was gradually increased from 5.006 g/cm(3) for 0Nd-glass sample to 5.245 g/cm(3) for 5Nd-glass sample. In terms of the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), introducing Nd3+ ions in the glass matrix has a direct constructive influence on the obtained values of MAC. Generally, the MAC trend follows the order (MAC)(5Nd) > (MAC)(4Nd) > (MAC)(3Nd) > (MAC)(2Nd) > (MAC)(1Nd) > (MAC)(0Nd). The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) has a similar trend as MAC for all xNd-glasses. In terms of the half-value layer (T-1/2), the 5Nd-glasses possessed the minimum T-1/2 values (0.004 cm at 15 keV to 4.301 cm at 15 MeV). Therefore, the T-1/2 of the fabricated xNd-glasses has an inverse behavior of the MAC and LAC. Thus, (T-1/2)(0Nd) > (T-1/2)(1Nd) > (T-1/2)(2Nd) > (T-1/2)(3Nd) > (T-1/2)(4Nd) > (T-1/2)(5Nd). The effective atomic number (Z(eff)) parameter follows the order (Z(eff))(5Nd) > (Z(eff))(4Nd) > (Z(eff))(3Nd) > (Z(eff))(2Nd) > (Z(eff))(1Nd) > (Z(eff))(0Nd). In the energies preferred for radiation applications, 5Nd-glasses possess very low exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) buildup factor values. The fast neutron removal cross-section (FNRC) of the fabricated glasses is improved as the Nd3+ content increases in the glass matrix.