A group of researchers, including a scientist from the Ural Federal University (UrFU), has developed a new type of borosilicate glass for radiation protection. It is more than 28% more effective compared to concrete and other traditional materials.
This development opens up opportunities for creating radiation protective glasses, thinner and more durable screens for medical, industrial, and nuclear equipment.
Radiation protective glasses are known to contain high concentrations of lead oxide, which is toxic to humans and the environment. We have created new lead-free glasses using neodymium oxide and barium oxide, which have high atomic numbers. This improves radiation protection, as well as increases the transparency and optical properties of the glasses.
According to the scientist, the new glass is capable of absorbing yellow and green light. Due to this, it can be used in welding goggles for individual protection during the repair and welding of metallic radioactive surfaces. The results of the study were confirmed using the Phy-X program.
Borate glasses have long been used in the nuclear industry due to their resistance to radiation and ease of production, but they are fragile. Scientists added heavy oxides—neodymium and barium—to the composition of borate glasses. This made it possible to obtain more durable samples while maintaining their transparency. The glasses were synthesized by the melt-quenching method using high-purity components.
The study showed that the new glasses also outperform analogues from borosilicate systems containing lead oxide and barium oxide. When irradiated with gamma radiation with a power of 0.662 MeV, their efficiency is 16% higher than that of glasses with 35-40 mol percent lead.
Earlier www1.ru reported, the production of radiation protection equipment will be launched near Smolensk.
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