Structure and properties of gadolinium loaded calcium phosphate glasses

The glass samples with composition xGd2O3-(50 − x)CaO-50P2O5 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 9 mol%) were prepared by the conventional melt quench method. The structure and properties of gadolinium loaded in calcium phosphate glasses were investigated using XRD, SEM, DTA, IR and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD and SEM analysis for the samples show that the majority of samples are amorphous, and crystallization occurs when the content of Gd2O3 containing is up to 6 mol%. Two main crystalline phases, Ca2P2O7 and Gd3(P2O7)3, are embedded in an amorphous matrix. IR and Raman data indicate that glass structure consists of predominantly metaphosphate (Q2) units and the depolymerization of phosphate network with the addition of Gd2O3. Both the chemical durability and the glass transition temperature (Tg) are improved with the increase of Gd2O3, which suggests that the Gd acts a role of strengthening the cross-links between the phosphate chains of the glass.