Role of Al2O3, WO3, Nb2O5, and PbO on the physical, elasto-mechanical and radiation attenuation performance of borotellurite glasses.

This work intended to determine the contribution of different rare-earth elements (W⁶⁺, Nb⁵⁺, and Pb²⁺) with respect to Al³⁺ effects and on physical, structural, mechanical and shielding performance of different types of borotellurite glasses. Accordingly, nine different borotellurite glasses from the system: 5M_xO_y − zAl₂ O₃ − 20B₂O₃ − (75 − z)TeO₂ (where M_xO_y = WO₃, Nb₂O₅, and PbO) and three glasses of the chemical form zAl₂ O₃ − 20B₂O₃ − (80 − z)TeO₂; where (x, y, z) = 0, 5, and 10 mol% compositions were comprehensively examined for of their nuclear attenuation shielding performance, along with physical, thermodynamic and mechanical properties. The results revealed that these rare-earth ions have different effects on the mechanical and shielding properties of borotellurite glasses against ionizing radiation. W⁶⁺, Nb⁵⁺ and Pb²⁺ increased the borotellurite mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) values and enhanced the radiation protection efficiency of the glass, however Al³⁺ decreased it. These findings pointed that W-reinforced borotellurite glass composition, namely 5WO₃-5Al₂O₃-20B₂O₃-70TeO₂ 40Bi₂O₃ with density of 4.77 g/cm³ had superior gamma-ray attenuation performance. These correlated findings between the radiation shielding performance, chemical, physical, structural, and mechanical properties may open a door for engineers to design glasses using rare-earth oxides as additive components for special needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]