Effect of sodium oxide (Na2O) glass modifier on physical properties and gamma shielding in tellurite glass systems TeO2-ZnO-PbO-Bi2O3 (TZPB)

Abstract

<span>TZPB glasses with the composition </span><span>55TeO<sub>2</sub>-(41-x)ZnO-2Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-2PbO-xNa<sub>2</sub>O </span><span>(x= 2; 2.5; 3; 3.5 mol%) have been fabricated and characterized to determine the physical properties and gamma radiation shielding parameters. The method of glass fabrication is melt quenching with the holding temperature at 900˚C for 30 minutes and the annealing temperature at 256˚C for 6 hours. The result of the characterization of the density and gamma shielding parameters was calculated using Phy-X PSD software. The glass density was measured using Archimedes's principle and showed a decrease from 5.79 to 5.73 g/cm<sup>3</sup>. The molar volume increased from 23.3 to 23.6 g/mol with the addition of Na<sub>2</sub>O concentration. Gamma radiation shielding parameters, LAC, MAC, MFP, HVL, and TVL simulated with the energy range were 10<sup>-3</sup>-10<sup>5</sup> MeV. The results of Phy-X/PSD software showed an increasing MAC, MFP, HVL, and TVL and decreasing in LAC with an increase in Na<sub>2</sub>O concentration.</span>