“…Furthermore, ionizing radiation, fluxes of neutrons, protons, deutrons, etc, cause stress in glass and often lead to cracking or fracture Shill 1970, Primak andEdwards 1962). The process of stress build-up in borate glasses probably involves Kishii 1968, Ooka andShill 1970): (1) translation of alkali ions caused by elongation of =B-0 bonds; (2) rotation of BO, or BO, groups caused by twisting or change of the bond angle; and (3) formation of new B-0-B bonds between two BO, triangles by elongation, charge transfer or photoionization of =B-0 unit. These processes should lead to structural changes in gamma irradiated borate glasses.…”