Optical parameters and gamma shielding quality of sodium-borate glasses: The relative contribution of Bi2O3, SrO, and Li2O

The optical quality and compositional flexibility of borate glasses make them attractive materials for optical applications, nuclear waste containment, transparent radiation shields and many other applications in the nuclear and allied industries. This study presents the physical, optical, and gamma transmission data of the sodium borate glass structure: 75B₂O₃ – 15Na₂O – 9.5x – 0.5Nd₂O_3; for x = Bi₂O₃ (BiNd), SrO (SrNd), and Li₂O (LiNd). The glasses were prepared using the traditional melt-and-quench technique. The influence of Bi₂O₃, SrO, and Li₂O on the physical attributes, optical constants, and gamma radiation interaction coefficients was probed using standard laboratory procedures and software. The density of BiNd, SrNd, and LiNd was 3.32, 2.43, and 2.24 g/cm³, respectively. The molar volume of the glasses followed the trend: BiNd > SrNd > LiNd. The optical constants of the glasses, such as refractive index, metallization criterion, molar refractivity, molar polarizability, reflectance loss, and optical transmission, showed a wide fluctuation with respect to glass composition. The values of the gamma mass attenuation coefficients for 15 keV–15 MeV photons were in the range 0.0316–45.0225 cm²/g for BiNd, 0.0206–5.4940 cm²/g for SrNd, and 0.0184–3.4603 cm²/g for LiNd. Generally, density has a positive correlation with the gamma absorption prowess of the investigated xNd glasses. A correlation between the optical and shielding parameters was highlighted in this study. The xNd glasses, especially SrNd and BiNd, are preferred as transparent radiation protection barriers, in contrast to some conventional Pb-based glasses, from environmental and public health perspectives. This glass composition is therefore unique and its properties are essentially useful in optical and radiation technologies.