The influence of TeO2 and Bi2O3 on the shielding ability of lead-free transparent bismuth tellurite glass at low gamma energy range

Abstract Transparent heavy metal oxide glasses are becoming increasingly important because of their effectiveness in reducing unwanted occupational and public radiation exposure in the medical settings; and for the clear view it offers when properly used during the construction of diagnostic radiology facilities, mobile shields and eye wears. WinXCom computer program was used to determine the mass attenuation coefficients of the studied glass systems; while other shielding parameters were determined by using appropriate equations. All these shielding parameters were determined at 20 keV, 30 keV, 40 keV and 60 keV; these are the average energies of photons commonly used in diagnostic radiology. The outcome of this work shows that increment in Bi2O3 led to better MAC and HVL at 20 and 30 keV while increment in TeO2 led to better MAC and HVL at 40 and 60 keV B1, B3 and B4 showed different improved shielding properties at 20, 40 and 60 keV zBi2O3–30B2O3-(70-z) TeO2 glass system showed better shielding qualities when compared with commonly used materials in diagnostic radiology.