Effect of barium addition and plasma nitriding treatment on chemical and physical properties of Al, Pb borate glass system as a developed radiation shield

Abstract

The effect of the BaO addition of to aluminum, lead borate in a series of (BaO)x (B2O3)60-x (Al2O3)10 (Li2O)10 (PbO)20 glasses where x = 0 to 50 weight% have been studied through their shielding, mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. The physical parameters such as molar volume (Vm), density (ρ), and oxygen packing density (OPD) were evaluated and discussed. Moreover, the thermal stability of the investigated system increases with BaO content. The present study proved that each of the plasma nitriding treatments of the samples and/or increasing Ba content greatly improved their ability to resist scratching and corrosion. Therefore, the obtained results are candidates for the present glass system to be effectively used as a protective shield against nuclear radiations in many advanced domains.