Influence of [Na₂O]/[CuO] on the physical and photon attenuation capacities of cupric sodium phosphate glasses: A comparative study

The role of the [Na₂O]/[CuO] ratio in two glass groups with a chemical formula of (50 − y/2)Na₂O–yCuO–(50 − y/2) P₂O₅ (y = 0.0–40 mol%) coded as Line I and (50 − y)Na₂O–yCuO–50P₂O₅ (y = 0.0–50 mol%) coded as Line II on physical and gamma-ray attenuation properties have been deeply investigated. The density (ρ) varied from 2.471 to 3.262 g/cm³ and from 2.471 to 3.113 g/cm³ for Line I and Line II glasses, respectively. The molar volume (V_m) values varied from 41.280 to 28.526 cm³/mol and from 41.280 to 35.609 cm³/mol for Line I and Line II glasses, respectively. The oxygen molar volume (OMV) reduced from 13.761 to12.972 cm³/mol and from 13.761 to 11.873 cm³/mol, while the oxygen packing density (OPD) improved from 72.674 to 77.124 and from 72.674 to 84.253 g.atom/l for Line I and Line II glasses. The mass and linear attenuation coefficients (MAC and LAC) values corresponding to the Line II glass is slightly lower than their counterpart of the Line I. The effective atomic numbers (Z_eff) and electron density (N_eff) for glasses in Line I was lower than that for those in Line II. Exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF) buildup factors have the same trend in both glass groups. The findings support the capability to utilize the examined glasses as radiation shielding materials.