Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND PERFORMANCE, cilt.5, sa.5, ss.1-16, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
This study explores the radiation shielding and elastic properties of Er3+-doped lithium-zinc-tellurite glasses, focusing on both gamma-ray and neutron shielding capabilities, as well as mechanical properties. The elastic modulus values for the samples ranged from 59.70 to 60.72 GPa, indicating that the incorporation of Er3+ slightly influences the elastic properties of the glasses. The maximum elastic modulus value was observed in the TZL1.0Er sample, while the minimum was found in the TZL0.1Er sample, with a percentage difference of approximately 1.68%. The gamma-ray shielding properties were evaluated through parameters such as linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layer, mean free path, and effective atomic number. The TZLE5 sample demonstrated superior gamma-ray attenuation with a linear attenuation coefficient of approximately 250 cm21 at 0.1 MeV and an effective atomic number reaching up to 55 at lower photon energies. In contrast, the neutron shielding effectiveness, indicated by the fast neutron removal cross-section (RR), showed a decrease with increasing Er3+ content, with a percentage difference of nearly 8.3% between the highest and lowest RR values. The highest RR observed was approximately 0.12 1/ cm, indicating that elements like Zn and Te, which are more abundant in samples with lower Er3+ content, contribute more effectively to neutron shielding. The benchmarking phase revealed that while TZLE5 excels in gamma-ray shielding, it is less effective for neutron protection compared to materials specifically engineered for neutron shielding. It can be concluded that Er3+-doped lithium-zinc-tellurite glasses offer excellent gamma-ray shielding and maintain mechanical stability but require the integration of effective neutron moderators to achieve balanced and comprehensive radiation protection.