High cesium (Cs)‐bearing sodium borosilicate glasses incorporated with varying concentrations of TiO2 up to 10 mol% at the expense of B2O3 were prepared by the conventional melt quenching method. Physicochemical properties of the glasses studied include Cs volatilization losses, leaching, and glass transition temperatures. Structural aspects of the glasses were investigated using Fourier transform infrared, 11B MAS NMR, and UV‐visible optical absorption techniques. From the detailed investigations on these glasses, optimum concentration of TiO2 for minimum volatilization losses of Cs has been established. Structural studies revealed the role of TiO2 in the Cs volatilization as well as leaching characteristics of the glass. Based on our studies, it can be inferred that the glass sample with 5 mol% TiO2 content gives the optimum formulation with regard to the leaching and Cs volatilization losses. Results of the study are useful in the development of high Cs‐bearing glasses for their use as a gamma source for radiation technology application.

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Volatility of Cs from borosilicate glasses incorporated with different additives like ZnO, BaO, and CaO have been investigated as a function of heating temperatures (900°C, 950°C, and 1000°C) and time. According to the lower Cs volatility, the sequence of the incorporated oxides is arrived asIt is confirmed that the volatilization of Cs occurred predominantly through diffusion controlled process. From the temperature-dependence volatility profiles of Cs, the activation energy and frequency factor was calculated and found to be in the range of 300-500 kJ/mol and 10 3 -10 12 cm 2 /s, lowest for ZnO and highest for CaO containing glasses. It was found that the frequency factor and not the activation energy were controlling the Cs loss. The observed variations in the activation energy and frequency factor have been explained by a unique model structure and possible interactions of Cs with different structural units formed due to incorporation of the different additives.

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