Influence of Sm2O3 substitution on the mechanical properties, crystallization kinetics, radiation shielding and Judd–Ofelt analysis of borosilicate glasses

Abstract

Magnesium-containing borosilicate glass samples reinforced with varying concentrations of Sm₂O₃ (0–1.5 mol%) have been produced via the conventional melt quenching method in order to investigate the mechanical properties, activation energy of crystallization and transition, thermal stability, fragility index, radiation shielding (MAC, HVL, Z_eff, EBAF) and Judd–Ofelt parameters. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the glassy nature of the prepared samples owing to the lack of distinctive X-ray diffraction peaks. The elastic moduli Em and Rm increased from 86.26 to 107.95 GPa and 62.11 to 95.55 GPa, respectively, with an increase in Sm₂O₃ concentration. Crystallization kinetics, especially activation energies (E_g, E_x and E_c), were analyzed via the Kissinger and Augis–Bennett methods and were found to increase with increasing Sm₂O₃ concentration. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) and the effective atomic number (Z_eff) increased, whereas the half-value layer (HVL) decreased as Sm₂O₃ content increased in the glass networks. The MS-1 sample has higher relative photon attenuation efficiency over a broad energy range than the other samples. The Judd–Ofelt parameters follow the same trend (Ω₄ > Ω₂ > Ω₆) for all the prepared glass samples. To examine the suitability of Sm³⁺-substituted borosilicate glass for photonic applications, transition probability (A_r), branching ratio (β_r), radiative lifetime (τ_R), and peak emission cross-section (σ_p) are obtained for each transition band. The examined glasses are promising candidates for laser applications as compared to the other Sm₂O₃ doped glass systems reported in the literature.