Investigation of structural properties of lead strontium borate glasses for gamma-ray shielding applications

Glasses of the system PbO–SrO–B2O3 with the value of molar ratio R (=PbO/B2O3) in the region 0.14≤R≤2.0 were prepared using the melt quenching technique. In order to evaluate gamma-ray shielding properties for glass samples, mass attenuation coefficients have been calculated with the XCOM computer program. The longitudinal velocities of ultrasonic waves were measured in these glass samples at room temperature using the pulse echo technique. The results indicate that with increase in R value, stability of glass network decreases. Stability of glass network decreases indicate the increase in the number of borons with non-bridging oxygens at the expense of decrease of tetrahedral borate units. This feature may lead to open glass structure with lesser rigidity of the glass samples. DSC studies have been undertaken to measure the glass transition temperature and to get an idea about stability of the glass network with increasing R value.