Physical, optical and mechanical properties of BaO-WO₃-P₂O₅ (BWP) glass system for radiation shielding

This study examines the physical, optical and mechanical characteristics of BWP glasses. The density and molar mass increase as the WO₃ concentration rises, resulting in a denser and more substantial glass sample. However, the molar volume decreases, indicating a reduction in volume due to the increased density caused by WO₃. The inclusion of WO₃ also leads to a tighter spacing between atoms. The optical basicity of the glass increases with higher WO₃ concentrations. The electronegativity decreases, suggesting the glass becomes more electron-donating. The electronic polarizability and cross-link density increase, resulting in a stiffer and more robust glass network. The mechanical moduli, including Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and longitudinal modulus, also increase with higher WO₃ concentrations, indicating improved mechanical characteristics and reduced deformation. The Poisson's ratio shows a larger transverse deformation tendency with increasing WO₃ concentration. Micro-hardness values increase with WO₃ content, indicating enhanced durability and mechanical robustness. The mean free path values indicates that the higher WO₃ content, or lower P₂O₅ content, improves the shielding ability.