Influence of B2O3 incorporation on the structural, mechanical and radiation shielding properties of TeO2 Based bioglasses

This study investigates the structural, mechanical, and radiation shielding properties of a series of novel bio glasses with the composition (55-x)TeO₂-20Na₂O-10CaO-15P₂O₅-xB₂O₃ (where x = 0, 3, 5, 10, and 20 mol%). The aim was to evaluate the effect of B₂O₃ addition on these properties. Empirical methods were used for calculating the mechanical and elastic properties. XRD analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the glasses, while FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of characteristic functional groups associated with TeO₂ and B₂O₃. The results indicate that B₂O₃ incorporation significantly reduces the glass density (from 4.24 g/cm³ to 3.18 g/cm³) and enhances molar volume (from 29.963 cm³/mol to 34.302 cm³/mol), leading to a less compact glass structure. The mechanical properties were also affected, with fracture toughness decreasing (from 1.367 MPa m^1/2 to 1.280 MPa m^1/2) and hardness increasing (from 3.091 GPa to 3.207 GPa). Regarding radiation shielding performance, the Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC) values decreased with increasing B₂O₃ content, indicating a deterioration in shielding effectiveness due to the lower effective atomic number of B₂O₃ compared to TeO₂. These findings demonstrate that while B₂O₃ improves mechanical hardness and molar volume, it compromises radiation shielding properties by reducing glass density and attenuation capacity.