Recycling of cathode-ray tube screen glasses using Na2CO3: Structural properties and transmission resistance against charged radiation and neutron

Abstract

The number of damaged and end-of-life cathode-ray tube (CR)glasses has continued to rise globally; this has become an environmental issue. As a way of mitigating the resulting environmental problems, research aimed at finding alternative uses or upcycling waste CR glass for the production of valuable materials has become important. In this research, the consequence of adding Na₂CO₃ on the microstructural, mechanical, physical, and radiation absorption efficacy of CRT screen glass is reported. Glass system consisting of CR screen glass (CRT) and 20% (CRT-NC20) and 40% (CRT-NC40) Na₂CO₃ powder by weight were fabricated using the solid-state reaction and cold-isostatic-press process. The chemical structure of the glasses was investigated using the SEM-EDS method. The microhardness and density were determined using an experimental procedure conducted at room temperature. In addition, the mass stopping powers and projected ranges of charged particle and (thermal and fast) neutron cross-sections were determined theoretically. The densities of the glasses were 3.117, 2.987, and 2.894 g/cm³ for pure CR glass, and those containing 20% and 40% of Na₂CO_3, respectively. On the other hand, the corresponding Vickers hardness value was 495, 506, and 521 HV, respectively. The addition of Na₂CO₃ improved the ability of the CR glass to resist the transmission of charged radiation and increased the cross-sections of fast and thermal neutrons. The addition of Na₂CO₃ to CR glass is a good method of recycling waste CRT glass for fabricating radiation shielding material.