Structural investigation of borosilicate recycled-barium–bismuth glasses under the influence of gamma-irradiation through ultrasonic and FTIR studies

The ultrasonic velocity for different compositions of irradiated recycled heavy metal oxide (HMO) borosilicate glasses of the xBi2O3–50BaO–(50 − x)borosilicate glass system (where x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mol.%) has been studied by using the pulse echo technique. The elastic moduli, Debye temperature, Poisson's ratio and microhardness have been obtained from the experimental data. Changes in the structure after irradiation have been investigated by using FTIR spectroscopy and ultrasonic studies. As the changes are strongly dependent on the internal structure of the absorbing materials, the ultrasonic velocities in borosilicate–barium–bismuth glasses are measured before and after gamma-irradiation as a function of composition, from which the structural changes in the B–O and Si–O–B bond due to irradiation are obtained.

► Change in acoustical parameter due to composition effect and irradiation effect. ► S4 glass sample is most affected by irradiation compare to other samples studied. ► FTIR results support the structural change by composition and irradiation effect.