Researchers have developed a novel glass material that can effectively shield against both neutrons and gamma rays, making it a promising candidate for use in nuclear applications. The glass is reinforced with boron and bismuth, which enhance its ability to attenuate different types of radiation. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient and versatile radiation-shielding materials for a range of industries, from nuclear power plants to medical facilities. Neutrons and gamma rays are two types of high-energy radiation that pose significant risks to human health and the environment, and finding effective ways to shield against them is a critical challenge in nuclear technology.
Boosting Glass Durability and Shielding Capabilities
The research team, led by scientists from the Modern Academy for Engineering and Technology in Cairo, Egypt, set out to create a glass material that could better withstand and block both neutrons and gamma rays. They did this by reinforcing a silicate glass network with boron (B3+) and bismuth (Bi3+) ions.
Boron is known for its exceptional ability to absorb slow neutrons, while bismuth is an effective attenuator of gamma rays due to its high electron density. By incorporating these two elements into the glass structure, the researchers were able to enhance the material’s overall shielding performance against different types of radiation.
Structural Insights and Thermal Stability
The team’s analysis of the glass structure revealed the formation of Bi-O-Si, Bi-O-B, and B-Bi-Si bonds, which helped to strengthen the glass network and improve its thermal stability. They also observed an increase in the proportion of bridging oxygen (BO4) units compared to non-bridging oxygen (BO3) units, which further contributed to the glass’s rigidity and shielding capabilities.
The researchers found that the thermal properties of the glass, such as the glass transition temperature and crystallization onset, were closely tied to these structural changes. The high thermal stability of the developed glasses, with a difference between the glass transition and crystallization temperatures exceeding 100°C, makes them suitable for use in demanding nuclear applications.
Exceptional Optical and Mechanical Properties
In addition to its impressive radiation-shielding performance, the boron- and bismuth-reinforced glass also exhibited excellent optical properties. The material maintained high visible light transparency, exceeding 70%, while effectively blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation.
The researchers also found that the addition of boron and bismuth significantly enhanced the glass’s mechanical properties. The elastic moduli, including longitudinal, shear, bulk, and Young’s modulus, improved by up to 138.8% and 130.3%, respectively. The glass’s hardness also increased by an impressive 191.7% at the highest concentrations of boron and bismuth.
Effective Shielding against Neutrons and Gamma Rays
The team’s tests on the radiation-shielding capabilities of the glass revealed impressive results. Increasing the concentrations of boron and bismuth simultaneously enhanced the glass’s ability to attenuate total slow neutrons by 22.6% and slow neutrons by 135.5%. The glass also demonstrated a significant improvement in shielding against gamma rays of various energies, with the attenuation performance improving by 73.8% to 199.5%.
These findings suggest that the boron- and bismuth-reinforced silicate glass developed by the research team could be a highly effective and versatile radiation-shielding material for use in a variety of nuclear applications, from nuclear power plants to medical facilities.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Hadeer M. Nasr El Din, Aly Saeed, Eman Salem, R. M. El Shazly, Magda Abdel Wahab.
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