Mechanical and gamma-ray shielding examinations of Bi₂O₃–PbO–CdO–B₂O₃ glass system

Bi₂O₃–PbO–CdO–B₂O₃ glass samples were prepared via melt quenching. The substitution of Bi₂O for B₂O₃ to 5.742 g/cm³. The molar volume (V_m) gradually increased from 37.197 to 38.429 cm³ /mol when the Bi₂O₃ level increased from 10 to 25 mol%. With the addition of Bi₂O₃ from 10 to 25 mol%, Young's, bulk, shear, and longitudinal modulus reduced from 40.80 to 35.07 GPa, 22.92 to 19.97 GPa, 16.95 to 14.52 GPa, and 45.53 to 39.33 GPa, respectively. These glasses are bendable rather than elongated and can withstand longitudinal stress over shear stress. Radiation protection qualities were investigated using EpiXS software, which is based on the ENDF/B-VIII EPICS2017 library, between 122 and 1275 keV. The mass attenuation coefficients are substantially higher at low energies. The radiation shielding properties of Bi₂O₃–PbO–CdO–B₂O₃ glasses were improved by replacing B₂O₃ with Bi₂O₃. Quantifying this improvement is critical in developing compact radiation shielding employing this glass system. (author)