Research Article
Development and Experimental Evaluation of WO3-Doped Boro-Tellurite Glasses as Transparent Lead-Free X-ray Shielding Materials
Shihabudheen VT,
Ghizal Firdous Ansari*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, December 2026
Pages:
23-32
Received:
3 August 2026
Accepted:
11 August 2026
Published:
27 August 2026
Abstract: The development of environmentally friendly radiation shielding materials has gained considerable attention as an alternative to toxic lead-based shields used in medical and industrial applications. In the present study, a series of WO3-doped boro-tellurite glasses with the composition (55−x) TeO2-20B2O3-15ZnO-10Na2CO3-xWO3 (where x = 5, 10, 15, and 20 mol%) were successfully synthesized using the conventional melt-quenching technique. The X-ray shielding performance of the prepared glass samples (TBZNW1-TBZNW4) was experimentally evaluated using an Ultisys 52 diagnostic X-ray system operated over the tube voltage range of 50-140 kVp. The shielding characteristics were assessed in terms of the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), radiation attenuation efficiency (Att%), and lead equivalent thickness (LET). The results revealed that increasing the WO3 concentration significantly enhanced the attenuation capability of the glass system owing to the increase in density and effective atomic number. The TBZNW4 glass, containing 20 mol% WO3, exhibited the highest LAC and MAC values together with the lowest HVL, TVL, and MFP, indicating superior X-ray shielding performance. Moreover, the attenuation efficiency increased with WO3 content, while the lead equivalent thickness demonstrated the potential of the developed glasses to replace conventional lead-based shielding in diagnostic energy ranges. Comparison with previously reported shielding materials further confirmed the improved attenuation performance of the present glass system. These findings demonstrate that WO3-doped boro-tellurite glasses are promising, environmentally benign candidates for transparent radiation shielding applications in medical diagnostic facilities, laboratories, and other radiation environments.
Abstract: The development of environmentally friendly radiation shielding materials has gained considerable attention as an alternative to toxic lead-based shields used in medical and industrial applications. In the present study, a series of WO3-doped boro-tellurite glasses with the composition (55−x) TeO2-20B2O3-15ZnO-10Na2CO3-xWO3 (where x = 5, 10, 15, an...
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Research Article
Influence of Eu3+ Concentration on the Structural and Physical Properties of Tellurite-Based Glasses
Akanksha Tiwari,
Preeti Chincholikar,
Sandeep Kumar Sharma,
Ghizal Firdous Ansari*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, December 2026
Pages:
33-38
Received:
13 August 2026
Accepted:
25 August 2026
Published:
20 September 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.jpmt.20261102.12
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Abstract: Eu3⁺-doped sodium tungsten tellurite glasses of composition (79.5−x) TeO2-10WO3-10Na2O-xEu2O3 (x = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mol%), designated TNWEu (0.5), TNWEu (1.0) and TNWEu (1.5), were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching technique to investigate the role of Eu3⁺ concentration in governing the structural, thermal and physical behaviour of the tellurite glass network. Differential scanning calorimetry of the base ternary glass revealed a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 320°C, a melting temperature of 350°C and a crystallization onset (Tc) of 470°C, yielding a thermal stability parameter ΔT (= Tc − Tg) of 150°C, which exceeds values reported for conventional tellurite (102°C) and fluorophosphate (87°C) glasses and indicates favourable resistance to devitrification. Physical parameters obtained from density and molecular weight showed systematic and monotonic trends with increasing Eu2O3 content: density increased from 4.546 to 4.662 g/cc while molar volume decreased from 34.840 to 34.660 cc/mol, Eu3⁺ ion concentration rose from 1.611 × 1020 to 4.848 × 1020 ions/cc, inter-nuclear distance and polaron radius decreased, field strength increased from 0.888 × 1014 to 1.854 × 1014 cm-2, and oxygen packing density increased from 234.67 to 271.03 mol/l. These correlated trends indicate that Eu3⁺ ions progressively densify and cross-link the tellurite network, reducing free volume and non-bridging oxygen content as the dopant concentration increases. The combined structural compactness and thermal stability of the TNWEu glass system suggest its suitability as a host matrix for rare-earth-based photonic, optical amplification and solid-state lighting applications.
Abstract: Eu3⁺-doped sodium tungsten tellurite glasses of composition (79.5−x) TeO2-10WO3-10Na2O-xEu2O3 (x = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mol%), designated TNWEu (0.5), TNWEu (1.0) and TNWEu (1.5), were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching technique to investigate the role of Eu3⁺ concentration in governing the structural, thermal and physical behaviour of the...
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