Investigations of mechanical and radiation shielding properties of BaTiO3-modified cadmium alkali borate glass

Glass samples with contents Na2B4O7-CdO-CuO altered with different concentrations of BaTiO3 have been manufactured by the traditional melt quenching method. X-ray diffraction investigations were achieved to affirm the amorphous structure of the samples, while the FTIR studies reveal the presence of the structural units [BO3], [BO4], and [TiO4] in the network of these samples. The studies considered the glass former role of TiO2, the conversion of [BO3] into [BO4] units, and the increment of the density of the glass samples as a function of BaTiO3. The investigations with the pulse-echo technique showed an increment of the ultrasound velocities, the Debye temperature, and the mechanical parameters. This increment was correlated to the former role of TiO2, the conversion of [BO3] into [BO4] units, the enhancement of the average cross-link density, the number of bonds per unit volume of the sample, and the increment of dissociation energy. Photon transmissions, linear attenuation coefficients, half-value layer, tenth value layer, and mean free path values of the prepared glasses have been obtained experimentally at selected photon energies. In addition, the values of the half-value layer of the explored glasses decrease as a function of BaTiO3. The measured results were compared with the FLUKA code. The FLUKA code results were in good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, the results present the additions of BaTiO3 to the glass network improve the shielding parameters.

Automated summary

Glass samples doped with different concentrations of BaTiO3 were prepared using the traditional melt quenching method. The structural and performance properties of the samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction and FTIR studies. The results showed that the addition of BaTiO3 improved the density and mechanical properties of the glass, while reducing the photon transmission ability. The experimental results were consistent with the simulation results obtained using the FLUKA code.