Synthesis, physical properties, neutron, and gamma-ray shielding competence of borate-based glasses reinforced with erbium (III) oxide: a closer-look on the impact of Eu₂O₃

Density, γ-ray, and neutron radiation shielding competence of borate-based glasses: B₂O₃–CaO–ZnO– Li₂O—xEu₂O₃; x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mol% has been tested. The proposed glasses were prepared utilizing melting–quenching technique. Evaluation of radiation shielding parameters is achieved theoretically utilizing XCOM and Phy-X programs and simulated by Geant4 simulation code in the energy spectrum 0.015 MeV < E < 15 MeV. The density of the proposed samples was varied from 3.2307 g/cm³ for Eu-0.0 sample to 3.3380 g/cm³ for Eu-0.5 sample. Both linear (LAC) and mass (MAC) attenuation coefficients are possessed the highest values for Eu-0.5 sample and the lowest values for Eu-0.0 sample. The trend of the MAC can be modeled by an exponentially function with decay nature. The percentage calculated error between the XCOM and Phy-X methods was less than 6%. The sample with least [Eu₂O₃] molar fraction showed highest HVL among the studied and more than the standard (RS-360 and RS-520) glasses. The transmission factor (TF%) is huge for high energetic photons and at minimal density is anticipated in these transparent materials. The Eu-0.5 sample achieved the highest value of (Σ_R = 0.128 cm⁻¹) and the lowest value Σ_R = 0.126 cm⁻¹ achieved by the sample Eu-0.0. Therefore, one can conclude that the sample encoded Eu-0.possessing the optimal radiation shielding parameters over all investigated glass mixtures.