Development of BaO–ZnO–B2O3 glasses as a radiation shielding material

The effects of the BaO on the optical, physical and radiation shielding properties of the xBaO: 20ZnO: (80−x)B2O3, where x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25mol%, were investigated. The glasses were developed by the conventional melt-quenching technique at 1400°C with high purity chemicals of H3BO3, ZnO, and BaSO4. The optical transparency of the glasses indicated that the glasses samples were high, as observed by visual inspections. The mass attenuation coefficients (µm), the effective atomic numbers (Zeff), and the effective electron densities (Ne) were increased with the increase of BaO concentrations, and the decrease of gamma-ray energy. The developed glass samples were investigated and compared with the shielding concretes and glasses in terms of half value layer (HVL). The overall results demonstrated that the developed glasses had good shielding properties, and highly practical potentials in the environmental friendly radiation shielding materials without an additional of Pb. •xBaO: 20ZnO: (80−x) B2O3, where x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25mol%, glasses were prepared.•The µm, Zeff and Ne were increased with increase BaO concentrations and decrease gamma-ray energy.•Glasses show excellent shielding properties compared with standard shielding materials.•Developed glasses will be practical potentials in the environmental friendly shielding material.