Effect of MnO2 on the optical, elastic, mechanical, and radiation shielding performance of bismuth silicate glass

Abstract

The effect of MnO₂ on the optical, elastic, mechanical, and radiation shielding performance of xMnO₂+(60-x)Bi₂O₃+40SiO₂ glass system  have been studied. The refractive index improved by 38% as 20 mol% of MnO₂ is doped into the bismuth silicate glass. The elastic and  mechanical properties were estimated using the Makishima-Mackenzie’s model. The young modulus improved from 298.61 to 331.28 Gpa  and the microhardness increased by 9.25% as 20 mol% of MnO₂ doped into the glass structure. The radiation attenuation properties  were investigated using the Phy-X/PSD and XCOM in the photon energy range 0.015-15 MeV. The encoded 0MnBiSi glass sample has  lowest half value layer, and mean free path. The findings show that replacing part of Bi₂O₃ with MnO₂ improves optical, elastic, and  mechanical properties while decreasing attenuation quality. All the glasses investigated, give better attenuation properties than certain   glass proposed for radiation shielding.