Influence of Nb₂O₅ additives on SiO₂–Pb₃O₄–ZnO glasses: a physical, structural, elastic, optical, and radiation shielding properties

Abstract A series of zinc lead silicate glass having compositions: 60SiO 2 —35Pb 3 O 4 —(5- x ) ZnO- x Nb 2 O 5 where ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> <mml:mo>≤</mml:mo> <mml:mi>x</mml:mi> <mml:mo>≥</mml:mo> <mml:mn>5</mml:mn> </mml:math> ) mol% were successfully fabricated, by applying the melt-quenching technique. The density of these glasses increased from 5.91, gcm −3 for ZSPNb-0 to 6.782, gcm −3 for ZSPNb-5. Using ultrasonic velocity ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>V</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>L</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) and ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>V</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) data from the ultrasonic technique, elastic moduli and microhardness were computed. Both ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>V</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>L</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) and ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>V</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>T</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ) increased, going from 4935 to 5215 m s −1 and 2520 to 2845 m s −1 , respectively. Because of these results, the glass’s elastic moduli increase, and its structure becomes more ri g id. The o ptical description E g , n, α o , ε r , χ (3) , n2, M, T and further were researched. Totally, the optical considerations are persuaded by alter niobium contents in the present specimens. As the concentration of Nb 2 O 5 in the glass increases, (LAC) is also increased, while (HVL), and (MFP) decreased. This means that ZSPNb glass with higher Nb 2 O 5 content becomes more effective at attenuating or reducing the intensity of gamma radiation. Such enhanced radiation-shielding properties make ZSPNb glass a promising material for potential applications in radiation shielding.