Influence of RE oxides (Eu3+, Sm3+, Nd3+) on gamma radiation shielding properties of lead fluoroborate glasses

Authors report the change in lead fluoroborate glass properties with change in RE2O3 (RE = Eu, Sm, Nd) chemical composition. The RE2O3 exhibited improvement in the radiation shielding properties of the glass samples. The gamma rays shielding capabilities of the samples were studied using the WinXcom software (for Eu2O3, Sm2O3 doped glasses) and Monte Carlo simulation (for Nd2O3 doped glasses). The results exhibited that the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), effective atomic number (Zeff), and half value layer (HVL) depends on the concentration of RE2O3 and addition of the same significantly increased the shielding capabilities of the glass samples against gamma rays. The increase in photon energy revealed the decrease in radiation shielding properties. The reported density and radiation attenuation properties of RE2O3 doped lead fluoroborate glasses are predominant in radiation shielding applications which will be useful in high strength structures. Of all the glass samples 2.5 mol% of Eu2O3, Sm2O3 and Nd2O3 doped glasses showed enhanced shielding properties.