Radiation shielding traits of bismuth–cadmium–barium-borate glasses: Role of lead activation

This paper reports the influence of lead (Pb) activation on various characteristics of some new types of bismuth (Bi)-cadmium (Cd)-barium (Ba)-borate (B2O3) glasses. These glasses of the form B2O3–Bi2O3–CdO–BaO–PbO with various concentrations of PbO doping (0–20 mol%) were prepared via the melt-quenching and characterized. XRD analysis of the as-quenched samples confirmed their glassy nature. The molar volume, density, and band gap energy of the glasses as a function of Pb contents were evaluated. Both FTIR and Raman spectra of the glasses showed the PbO acts differently on this glass structures over their compositions. In addition, Phy-X software was used to calculate the mass attenuation features of the studied samples in the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. The attenuation coefficients of the samples were improved with increase of PbO contents. The values of effective atomic number of the proposed glasses were varied in the range of 0.015–0.4 MeV. Moreover, build-up factors, γ-ray constant, γ dose rates, and total neutrons deletion cross sections were used to estimate the radiation shielding parameters. Glass sample enclosing maximum amount of Pb revealed the best γ-ray shielding trait and substantial change in the fast neutron's removal cross sections. •The borate glass samples with different PbO content were prepared by the standard melt-quenching method.•The μ/ρ values of the glasses were increased with the increase of the PbO content.•The EBF and EABF values were in the range of 1–15 mfp were augmented with the increase of penetration depth.•The values of dose rates were decreased with the increase of disordered medium (studied glasses) thicknesses or penetration depths.•The neutron removal cross sections were decreased with the rise of PbO concentrations.