Influence of the SrO Insertion to a Binary PbO-B2O3 Glass System: Mechanical Properties and Radiation Shielding Study

Mechanical features have been investigated to the glass system with the chemical composition xSrO-10PbO-(90–x)B2O3 with various concentrations of x = 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 mol%. Based on the Makishima-Mackenzie model, the elastic modulus has been predicted for the SrPbB glasses. The obtained results illustrate that elastic moduli reduced with the addition of SrO concentrations in the lead borate glass. The highest values of Young’s (89.03 GPa), bulk (68.36 GPa), shear (4.69 GPa), and longitudinal (114.63 GPa) moduli have been detected in the SrPbB20 glass with 20 molar fraction of SrO and low density of 3.29 g.cm−3. The radiation shielding properties have also been studied for the discussed glasses. Among the shielding parameters, the transmission factor and the mean free path have been detected according to the linear attenuation coefficient values which have been simulated utilizing the Monte Carlo simulation code MCNP5. Successively, the exposure buildup factors and the energy absorption buildup factor have been predicted using the BXCOM programme to appreciate the photons accumulation inwards the studied glass material as well as the effective atomic number (Zeff ) and the equivalent atomic number (Zeq ). Finally, it has been concluded that the present synthetical glasses are preferred to be utilized in various radiation shielding applications. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT