Structural variation in gamma ray irradiated PbO–Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 glasses

• Effect of modifier PbO has been studied on borosilicate glass compositions.
• Gamma shielding behaviour of the glasses has been studied using the FTIR spectroscopy.
• Glasses containing higher amount of PbO exhibit retardation effect towards gamma irradiation.

Glasses with compositions xPbO–15Na2O-(70−x) B2O3–15SiO2 where x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 (mol%) have been prepared using the melt quenching technique. The structural properties of these glasses have been investigated using the FTIR spectroscopy. The effect of the presence of modifier PbO on the glass system is also studied. The FT-IR spectral investigation of these glasses exhibits characteristic vibrations of BO4 and BO3 units together with SiO4 as well as PbOn (n=4,6) groups. The gamma ray interaction of the present glass system in the dose range 0.1–60 kGy is investigated. The results indicate that gamma rays result in the structural rearrangements in glass affecting the bridging and non bridging oxygens.