Material characterization of WO3/Bi2O3 substituted calcium-borosilicate glasses: Structural, physical, mechanical properties and gamma-ray resistance competencies

Highlights: • WO₃/Bi₂O₃ substituted calcium-borosilicate glasses have been characterized. • A high glass density was provided with 10% mole WO₃ in glass structure. • Elastic parameters increased with increasing WO₃ ratio. • A visible positive impact of WO₃ was reported in gamma-ray resistance behaviours. • There is a remarkable role of WO₃ on total materials characteristic of calcium-borosilicate glasses. -- Abstract: This study aimed to discuss the experimental results of the elastic and structural properties in addition to the photon-shielding properties of a group of different WO₃ content modified (60-x)Bi₂O₃–20B₂O₃–10SiO₂–10CaO-xWO₃ glasses. Glass samples with different concentrations of WO₃ (0 ≤x ≤ 10 mol%) were labeled as BiW-00, BiW-2.5, BiW-05, BiW-7.5, and BiW-10. The samples were synthesised using the melt-quenching method. The measured glass density increased with increasing WO₃ content. XRD patterns were gained to discover the amorphous network of the samples. The elastic parameters increased with increasing WO₃ ratio. The mass attenuation coefficients (µ_m) were obtained experimentally at energies of 0.356, 0.662, 0.911, 1.173, and 1.332 MeV, respectively. The half value layer and mean free path values were determined using mass attenuation coefficeint values. The lowest half value layer and mean free path values were observed for the BiW-10 glass with the highest WO₃ contribution (10% mol). It can be concluded that the addition of WO₃ to the glass network progresses the elastic parameters and nuclear radiation protection qualities.