Investigation of radiation shielding properties of basalt-based glasses: Binodal/Spinodal decomposition effect theory

This study investigated the radiation protection properties of basalt glasses modified by adding Bi2O3 at different concentrations. The chemical composition of Basalt-Bi2O3 glasses is Basalt (100–x)–x Bi2O3, where x = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt% represent G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6 glasses, respectively. The radiation shielding parameters of the glasses were measured for gamma energies of 303 keV, 356 keV, and 662 keV using a high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer equipped with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Density values were calculated between 2.75 and 4.18 g/cm3 according to Bi2O3 contribution. Mass attenuation coefficients (MAC, cm2/g) were determined between 0.043 and 0.149 depending on the composition and applied energy. It has been determined that the Bi2O3 additive increases the radiation shielding properties of basalt-based glasses and is also effective in the shielding properties of the phase separation mechanism. Phase separation mechanisms caused inhomogeneity of electron densities, which affected the radiation shielding.