The effects of La2O3 addition on mechanical and nuclear shielding properties for zinc borate glasses using Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

Effects of La2O3 addition on the mechanical and nuclear shielding properties of zinc borate glasses with the form (55-x)ZnO-45B2O3-xLa2O3: x = 0, 2, 5, and 10 mol% labelled as LZB1-LZB4, respectively were investigated. Bond compression (BC) model and Geant4 simulation code were utilized to achieve these objectives. The value of the bulk modulus (KBC) decreased from 153.116 GPa for LZB1 glass sample to 136.662 GPa for LZB4 glass sample corresponding to an increment of La2O3 from 0 to 10 mol%. Longitudinal modulus (LBC) decreased from 280.729 GPa to 249.610 GPa and the Young's modulus (EBC) also decreased from 238.11 GPa to 211.03 GPa for LZB1 to LZB4 glasses. Poisson's ratio (σBC) increased from 0.240 to 0.243 with the increase of La3+ ions in the LZB-glasses. Hardness of LZB-glasses was decreased from 16.578 GPa to 14.572 Gpa. The nuclear radiation shielding properties of the LZBx glasses were explored by utilizing Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations and different theoretical approaches such as ESTAR and XCOM platforms. The obtained values of mass attenuation (MAC) increased in the glasses in the order: LZB1 < LZB2 < LZB3 < LZB4. The maximum values of MAC obtained at energy of 15 keV were 39.157, 40.117, 41.356 and 43.019 cm2g-1 for LZB1, LZB2, LZB3, and LZB4 respectively. Calculated values of fast and thermal neutron macroscopic cross sections varied from 0.1143 to 0.1156 cm-1 and 1.9378 to 27,786 cm-1 as La2O3 varied from 0 to 10 mol% in the glasses. Also, the electron attenuation capacity of the LZBx glasses improved as La2O3 content increased. The observed promising properties of LZBx glasses is an indication that they can be useful for several applications including shielding against photons, electrons, and fast/thermal neutrons.