Effect of Bi2O3 on gamma ray shielding and structural properties of borosilicate glasses recycled from high pressure sodium lamp glass

The borosilicate glass was recycled from high pressure sodium lamp glass (HPSg) and investigated as a starting material for radiation shielding glass. Bi2O3 was expected to improve radiation shielding properties of the glass samples. Mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic number (Zeff) and effective electron density (Ne) of the glass samples ((80 – x)HPSg – (20)Na2O – (x)Bi2O3 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mol%) were determined at different photon energies. The energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and fast neutron removal cross sections were also calculated for the given materials. The results clearly revealed that mass attenuation coefficient and other parameters depends on concentration of Bi2O3 and addition of Bi2O3 significantly increased shielding capability of glass samples against gamma rays as well as fast neutrons. The results of Zeff and Ne confirmed the ability of shielding of the glass samples with Bi2O3 as well. Physical properties of glass samples were also investigated in the present work. The obtained ultrasonic velocities and Young's modulus of the glass samples led us to a conclusion that the network structures of the glass are loss of compact structures due to creation of NBOs when adding the Bi2O3. The FTIR measurements confirmed NBOs forming in the network structures of the glass samples with increase of Bi2O3 contents. The reported structural and radiation attenuation properties of recycled glass with Bi2O3 should be important in radiation shielding applications which requires high strength of structures at the same time.