Gamma radiation shielding characteristics for some rare earth doped lead borate glasses

A novel rare earth doped lead borate glass system (65B2O3–xGd2O3–xSm2O3-(35-2x) PbO) has been prepared by the means of melt-quench technique. XRD results confirm amorphous nature of glass samples. The density of glasses has been measured using Archimedes’ method. The fundamental radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number decreases as PbO is replaced by Sm2O3 and Gd2O3 in the glass series. Whereas, the thickness normalizing parameters such as mean free path (mfp) and half value layer (HVL) exhibit an increase in value with decrease in lead oxide content. As these glasses incorporate some rarer earth oxides, the glasses can also be potential candidate for radiation sensing applications.