Glass Materials for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Applications
The increasing demand for efficient radiation shielding in medical, industrial, and nuclear sectors has prompted the exploration of innovative glass compositions. These materials are gaining attention due to their transparency, adaptability, and potential to replace conventional, toxic lead-based protectors. Asst. Prof. Duygu Sen Baykal from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Nisantasi University, as a member of a team investigating the roles of advanced glass materials in radiation shielding, highlights advancements in reinforced glass systems, lead-free alternatives, and doped glass materials. These studies showcase the materials’ ability to meet safety requirements while offering additional benefits such as optical clarity and mechanical strength.
Reinforced Glass for Shielding
Reinforced glass systems have emerged as a promising solution for radiation shielding. By increasing the concentration of certain reinforcing materials, the gamma-ray absorption properties of these glasses have been significantly enhanced. Higher concentrations of these materials increase the density and reduce key parameters such as the half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP), resulting in superior shielding performance. These advancements demonstrate the effectiveness of reinforced glass in minimizing radiation exposure [1–2].
Lead-Free Glass Compositions
Lead-free glass compositions offer structural strength, transparency, and gamma-ray attenuation, addressing environmental concerns. These types of glasses provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution for medical imaging and industrial monitoring applications while ensuring safety and efficiency [3].
Doped Glass Systems Advancing Radiation Shielding
Doped glass systems expand radiation shielding applications. Glasses containing certain dopants exhibit superior gamma-ray absorption, high attenuation coefficients, enhanced stiffness, and durability for high-stress environments. Rare-earth element doped glasses combine optical performance, mechanical strength, and radiation protection, enhancing neutron shielding and elastic modulus [4–5].
The evolution of glass materials for radiation protection contributes to safer and more adaptable technologies for medical, industrial, and nuclear applications. These innovative compositions provide effective shielding and align with global efforts to reduce toxicity and enhance material sustainability.
*Notes: This article provides research teasers for each reference to showcase the novelties
References
[1] ALMisned, G., Rammah, Y. S., Zakaly, H. M. H., Baykal, D. S., Issa, S. A. M., Ene, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Sodium metaphosphate-tungsten trioxide glasses: A characterization study on gamma-ray shielding properties and transmission factors (Tfs). Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society, 60(4), 1005–1017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41779-023-00980-x
[2] AlMisned, G., Sen Baykal, D., Ilik, E., Abuzaid, M., Issa, S. A. M., Kilic, G., Zakaly, H. M. H., Ene, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2023). Tungsten (Vi) oxide reinforced antimony glasses for radiation safety applications: A throughout investigation for determination of radiation shielding properties and transmission factors. Heliyon, 9(7), e17838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17838
[3] Sen Baykal, D., Kilic, G., Ilik, E., Kavaz, E., ALMisned, G., Cakirli, R. B., & Tekin, H. O. (2023). Designing a Lead-free and high-density glass for radiation facilities: Synthesis, physical, optical, structural, and experimental gamma-ray transmission properties of newly designed barium-borosilicate glass sample. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 965, 171392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.171392
[4] Mechanical, gamma rays and neutron radiation transmission properties for some ZnO–TeO2–P2O5-ZnX glasses. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.07.132
[5] Mechanical and, photon transmission properties of rare earth element (REE) doped BaO–B2O3–Li2O–Al2O3–P2O5 glasses for protection applications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2024.101041
Glass Materials for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Applications
The increasing demand for efficient radiation shielding in medical, industrial, and nuclear sectors has prompted the exploration of innovative glass compositions. These materials are gaining attention due to their transparency, adaptability, and potential to replace conventional, toxic lead-based protectors. Asst. Prof. Duygu Sen Baykal from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Nisantasi University, as a member of a team investigating the roles of advanced glass materials in radiation shielding, highlights advancements in reinforced glass systems, lead-free alternatives, and doped glass materials. These studies showcase the materials’ ability to meet safety requirements while offering additional benefits such as optical clarity and mechanical strength.
Reinforced Glass for Shielding
Reinforced glass systems have emerged as a promising solution for radiation shielding. By increasing the concentration of certain reinforcing materials, the gamma-ray absorption properties of these glasses have been significantly enhanced. Higher concentrations of these materials increase the density and reduce key parameters such as the half-value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP), resulting in superior shielding performance. These advancements demonstrate the effectiveness of reinforced glass in minimizing radiation exposure [1–2].
Lead-Free Glass Compositions
Lead-free glass compositions offer structural strength, transparency, and gamma-ray attenuation, addressing environmental concerns. These types of glasses provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution for medical imaging and industrial monitoring applications while ensuring safety and efficiency [3].
Doped Glass Systems Advancing Radiation Shielding
Doped glass systems expand radiation shielding applications. Glasses containing certain dopants exhibit superior gamma-ray absorption, high attenuation coefficients, enhanced stiffness, and durability for high-stress environments. Rare-earth element doped glasses combine optical performance, mechanical strength, and radiation protection, enhancing neutron shielding and elastic modulus [4–5].
The evolution of glass materials for radiation protection contributes to safer and more adaptable technologies for medical, industrial, and nuclear applications. These innovative compositions provide effective shielding and align with global efforts to reduce toxicity and enhance material sustainability.
*Notes: This article provides research teasers for each reference to showcase the novelties
References
[1] ALMisned, G., Rammah, Y. S., Zakaly, H. M. H., Baykal, D. S., Issa, S. A. M., Ene, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2024). Sodium metaphosphate-tungsten trioxide glasses: A characterization study on gamma-ray shielding properties and transmission factors (Tfs). Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society, 60(4), 1005–1017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41779-023-00980-x
[2] AlMisned, G., Sen Baykal, D., Ilik, E., Abuzaid, M., Issa, S. A. M., Kilic, G., Zakaly, H. M. H., Ene, A., & Tekin, H. O. (2023). Tungsten (Vi) oxide reinforced antimony glasses for radiation safety applications: A throughout investigation for determination of radiation shielding properties and transmission factors. Heliyon, 9(7), e17838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17838
[3] Sen Baykal, D., Kilic, G., Ilik, E., Kavaz, E., ALMisned, G., Cakirli, R. B., & Tekin, H. O. (2023). Designing a Lead-free and high-density glass for radiation facilities: Synthesis, physical, optical, structural, and experimental gamma-ray transmission properties of newly designed barium-borosilicate glass sample. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 965, 171392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.171392
[4] Mechanical, gamma rays and neutron radiation transmission properties for some ZnO–TeO2–P2O5-ZnX glasses. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.07.132
[5] Mechanical and, photon transmission properties of rare earth element (REE) doped BaO–B2O3–Li2O–Al2O3–P2O5 glasses for protection applications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2024.101041