Influence of Eu2O3 incorporation on the gamma-ray shielding performance of germanoborate glasses
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Abstract
Background: The widespread use of ionizing radiation in medical and industrial applications has increased the demand for effective and lead-free radiation shielding materials. Rare earth doped glass systems have attracted attention due to their optical transparency and favorable attenuation properties.
Objectives: This study investigates the physical and gamma-ray shielding properties of Eu2O3-doped germanoborate glasses.
Materials and methods: Glasses with the composition 40GeO2: 25Gd2O3: (35-x)B2O3: xEu2O3 (x=0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 mol%) were prepared using the melt-quenching method. Density and molar volume were evaluated experimentally, while shielding parameters, including mass attenuation coefficients (μm), the effective atomic number (Zeff), the effective electron density (Neff), and half-value layers (HVL) and Pb equivalent thickness, were calculated using the WinXCom program.
Results: The density of the glasses increased with increasing Eu2O3 concentration, while the shielding parameters exhibited strong energy dependence according to dominant photon interaction mechanisms. Distinct K-absorption edges of Eu and Gd were observed near 0.04852 MeV and 0.05024 MeV, respectively. The incorporation of Eu2O3 slightly enhanced the attenuation parameters and reduced the HVL values, indicating improved gamma-ray shielding performance.
Conclusion: The developed Eu2O3-doped germanoborate glasses demonstrate promising physical and radiation shielding properties, suggesting their potential as transparent and lead-free shielding materials for medical and industrial applications.
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Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
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