Optical, structural and nuclear radiation shielding properties of Li 2 B 4 O 7 glasses: effect of boron mineral additive

The glass samples with Li2B4O7 (100 − x) Tincalx (x = 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) composition were synthesized by melt-quenching technique (Tincal = Na2B4O7·10H2O). The elemental analysis of Tincal with different compositions is tested using energy-dispersive X-ray technique. Moreover, the surface morphology of fabricated glasses was investigated with scanning electron microscopy. Further, optical properties of fabricated Tincal glasses were evaluated along the wavelength ranged from 200 to 900 nm. Finally, nuclear radiation shielding properties of Tincal glasses were determined for gamma rays, neutrons and charged particles. It is observed from the optical absorption spectra that Tincal 20% and 40% indicated good optical transparency in the visible range of light (400–700 nm). The results showed that Tincal additive improves the gamma protecting capacity of glasses. It was also noticed that the addition of Tincal was also enhanced the neutron absorption of the glasses by increasing the cross section of the neutron and reducing the coherent scattering length.