Gamma-radiation insulating performance of AlON-hardened Na₂O-Bi₂O₃-SiO₂-BaO-Fe₂O₃-ZrO₂ glasses

Aside high radiation cross-section, high mechanical strength is an essential quality for durable and effective glass shields. Many emerging glass shields are brittle with low strength parameters; consequently, limiting their longstanding applications. In this study, the use of AlON (aluminium oxynitride) to increase the hardness of a Zr-based glass system and the consequent effects on the glass density and gamma shielding capacity were investigated. AlON was produced from a combination of AlN and Al₂O₃ powders through the solid-phase reaction process at 1750 °C. The melt-and-quench process was then used to make the Zr-based (Na₂O-Bi₂O₃-SiO₂-BaO-Fe₂O₃-ZrO₂) glass. The glass was homogeneously mixed with varying quantities (0 (GZr8), 4 (GZr8Al4), and 8% (GZr8Al8) by weight) of AlON powder. Using the FLUKA Monte Carlo code, the gamma photon interaction parameters of the AlON-doped glasses were obtained. The density of the glasses increased from 2.90 to 3.11 g/cm³ as the AlON mass proportion increased from 0 to 8%. For GZr8, GZr8Al4, and GZr8Al8, the mass attenuation coefficient had values in the range 0.0316-38.9421 cm²/g, 0.0315-38.8504 cm²/g, and 0.0311-37.0391 cm²/g, respectively. The range of the half-value layer and mean free path for 0.015-15 MeV photons is about 0.01-7.54 cm and 0.01-10.87 cm for GZr8, 0.01-7.19 cm and 0.01-10.38 cm for GZr8Al4, and 0.01-7.14 cm and 0.01-10.31 cm for GZr8Al8. The introduction of AlON into the glass matrix quenched photon buildup factors and enhanced the photon shielding ability of the GZr8 glass system. GZr8Al8 can displace many existing shielding materials, including glasses, concrete, and rocks, based on the analysis of the obtained results. Aside high gamma shielding efficiency, the mechanical strength and Pb-free nature are other attractive features that give the AlON-doped glasses an edge over many existing gamma shielding materials. The present glass system is useful for durable gamma-ray shielding of small-scale gamma sources gamma sources applied in medicine and radiation research.