In this study, a series of europium ions incorporated lead boroaluminate glasses containing a composition of 69B2O3+5Al2O3+10PbO+15MO+1Eu2O3 (where M = Li2O, Na2O, K2O, MgO, CaO, SrO in wt%) were synthesized and characterized to evaluate their potential for radiation shielding applications. The influence of various alkali and alkaline earth modifiers on physical, structural, thermal and elastic properties was systematically examined. Density showed a clear compositional dependence, increasing from 3.155 g/cm3 (K) to 3.897 g/cm3 (Sr), while the molar volume varied between 18.375 and 25.416 cm3/mol, reflecting the combined effects of cation size and field strength on network packing. The refractive index increased steadily from nd = 1.632 (Li) to nd = 1.881 (Sr), consistent with enhanced polarizability in heavier modifier-containing glasses. FTIR spectral analysis revealed significant structural changes, including the transformation of BO3 to BO4 units and a reduction in non-bridging oxygens, confirming enhanced polymerization. Mechanical studies showed that Sr2+- and Ca2+-rich glasses exhibited superior Young's, shear, and bulk moduli, reflecting better mechanical strength and rigidity. Thermal analysis through TG/DSC indicates the well-defined glass transition and crystallization events, with Tg and ΔT values strongly dependent influenced by the modifiers. Radiation shielding performance was evaluated using parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), mean free path (MFP), half-value layer (HVL), electron density (Neff) and effective atomic number (Zeff). The radiation-shielding performance improved across the series, with MAC decreasing from 0.090 to 0.063 cm2/g, HVL reducing from 3.23 to 3.04 cm, and MFP shortening from 5.02 to 4.11 cm at 1 MeV while incorporating different modifiers from Li to Sr in the present compositions. Glasses containing Ca and Sr demonstrated enhanced photon interaction probabilities and reduced penetration depths compared to conventional shielding concretes. Moreover, buildup factor analysis and fast neutron removal cross-sections (FNRC) confirmed the dual-mode shielding capability of these glasses. The performance of the prepared glasses is benchmarked against commercial glass types such as RS 253, RS 360, RS 520, and RS G18/G19 and shielding concretes. The findings establish that careful selection of modifier oxides, especially Sr2+ and Ca2+, significantly enhances both structural and shielding efficiency, positioning these glasses as promising alternatives for compact and efficient radiation shielding materials in the advance nuclear waste management amenities.
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