Investigation of Structural, Thermal Properties and Shielding  Parameters of Borosilicate Glasses Doped with Dy3+/ Tb3+ Ions  for Gamma and Neutron Radiation Shielding Applications

Bashar Khudhair Abbas; Sharudin Omar Baki; Fong Wai Leng; Haider Khudhair Abbas; Layth  Al-Sarraj; Mohd Adzir Mahdi

Authors

Bashar Khudhair Abbas Wireless and Photonic Networks Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Sharudin Omar Baki Physics Division, Centre of Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Fong Wai Leng Wireless and Photonic Networks Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Haider Khudhair Abbas Research Centre of IT Technology, Ministry of Electricity, Baghdad, Iraq
Layth Al-Sarraj IT Dep./ Prospect Vision Engineering Company, Baghdad, Iraq
Mohd Adzir Mahdi Wireless and Photonic Networks Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Borosilicate glass, XRD, ATR-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, radiation shielding

Abstract

In this study, borosilicate host (H) and seven (S1-S7) samples are prepared by traditional melt-quenching technique. The samples are singly (S1, S2) and doubly (S3- S7) doped with deferent contents of Tb3+ and Dy3+ ions. All samples are analyzed and characterized by XRD (x-ray diffraction), ATR-FTIR (Attenuated total Reflectance?Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, TGA/DSC (Thermogravimetric analysis/Differential scanning calorimetry), and Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the radiation shielding parameters of mentioned glasses such as mass attenuation (μ/ρ), mean free path (MFP), and half-value layer (HVL) are evaluated within the energy of 0.015MeV-15MeV. These parameters are theoretically investigated and evaluated by using XCOM, WINXCOM, and Phy-X programs in addition to the other relevant equations. The ATR-FTIR measurement and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the unit structure of BO3 and BO4 groups as the main compound as well as the Aluminum-oxide (Al-O-Al) and zinc-oxide (ZnO4) bonds. The transition (Tg), onset crystallization (Tx), crystallization (Tc) temperatures, and weight loss were identified from DSC and TGA findings, respectively. Also, the prepared glass shows good stability against crystallization, as reflected by (∆T) variation. Furthermore, the radiation shielding parameter findings show good enhancement of the performance of the samples. However, upon these findings, one can say that these glasses could be used and utilized for radiation shielding purposes.