Development of Glass for Radiation Shielding Using Material from Perlite in Lopburi Province

AbstractThis research developed glass material from Perlite. The glasses chemical formula is 20Na2O:40B2O3:(40-X)Perlite:XBi2O3 where X are 0,5,10,15,20, and 25 W% by the melt quenching technique. Physical, optical, its radiation shielding abilities were studied by measuring density, refractive index, transmittance, mass attenuation coefficients, linear attenuation coefficients, and the half value layer (HVL). Densities and refractive indexes of glasses decreased as bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) concentration increased. Transmittance percentage from UV–Visible spectrophotometer showed the highest transmission at 15% concentration of Bi2O3. For radiation shielding properties, the linear attenuation coefficient and the mass attenuation coefficient calculated from WinXCom program showed increasing via added content Bi2O3. The HVL of 5 W% Bi2O3 doped glass is lower than that of concrete. The results of this research show that perlite glass has an ability for radiation shielding material.Keywords: Perliteradiation shieldingBi2O3 AcknowledgmentsThis study would like to express gratitude to Pibulwitthayai School, Thepsatri Rajabhat University, and Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University for their assistance.Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).