Fabrication, physical, structure characteristics, neutron and radiation shielding capacity of high-density neodymio-cadmium lead-borate glasses. Nd${}_2$O${}_3$/CdO/PbO/B${}_2$O${}_3$/Na${}_2$O

High-density glasses of neodymio-cadmium lead borate of chemical composition xNd${}_2$O${}_3$/20CdO/20PbO/(57-x)B${}_2$O${}_3$/3Na${}_2$O, where (0 (0Nd) ≤ x ≤ 5 (5Nd) wt%) have been fabricated by a melt quenching process. Physical, structure properties as well as gamma-radiation and neutron shielding effectiveness in wide photon energy range 0.015-15 MeV have been examined. The amorphous nature of xNd-glasses was confirmed, where there was a lack of their crystallinity. Density was gradually increased from 5.006 g/cm${}^3$ for 0Nd-glass sample to 5.245 g/cm${}^3$ for 5Nd-glass sample. In terms of the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), introducing Nd${}^{3+}$ ions in the glass matrix has a direct constructive influence on the obtained values of MAC. Generally, the MAC trend follows the order (MAC)${}_{5Nd}$ > (MAC)${}_{4Nd}$ > (MAC)${}_{3Nd}$ > (MAC)${}_{2Nd}$ > (MAC)${}_{1Nd}$ > (MAC)${}_{0Nd}$. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) has a similar trend as MAC for all xNd-glasses. In terms of the half-value layer (T${}_{1/2}$), the 5Nd-glasses possessed the minimum T${}_{1/2}$ values (0.004 cm at 15 keV to 4.301 cm at 15 MeV). Therefore, the T${}_{1/2}$ of the fabricated xNd-glasses has an inverse behavior of the MAC and LAC. Thus, (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{0Nd}$ > (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{1Nd}$ > (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{2Nd}$ > (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{3Nd}$ > (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{4Nd}$ > (T${}_{1/2}$)${}_{5Nd}$. The effective atomic number (Z${}_{eff}$) parameter follows the order (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{5Nd}$ > (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{4Nd}$ > (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{3Nd}$ > (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{2Nd}$ > (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{1Nd}$ > (Z${}_{eff}$)${}_{0Nd}$. In the energies preferred for radiation applications, 5Nd-glasses possess very low exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) buildup factor values. The fast neutron removal cross-section (FNRC) of the fabricated glasses is improved as the Nd${}^{3+}$ content increases in the glass matrix.