Synthesis, Structural and Radiation-shielding Properties of Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ Glass–ceramic System

The Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (LAS) glass system has high commercial values due to its very low thermal expansion coefficients and its very high chemical resistance among other properties. In this study, the preparation of LAS-based glass–ceramics (G-Cs) is reported, and the influence of P₂O₅ as a nucleating agent for crystallizing the amorphous glass structure at different rates into this glass composition, on the physical, structural, and mechanical properties is presented. The influece of different crytalization temperature on the crystal size and micreostructure as well as the radiation absorption abilities of the G-Cs were also investigated. The G-Cs were prepared using the melt and quench method and subjected to different temperature regimes to crystallise. The crystallinity of the prepared samples was examined with the aid of X-ray Diffraction analysis, while their chemical composition was probed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) of the samples were estimated for 15 keV–15 MeV photons using the well-known WinXCom software. Lithium silicate with the main phase formulation Li_0.75Al_0.75Si_2.25O₆ was identified as the main crystalline phase within the residual glass phase. The increase in P₂O₅ content slightly diminishes the photon absorption abilities of the G-Cs. However, the G-Cs showed better photon absorption prowess compared to some notable shielding materials. The G-Cs are thus important shielding materials useful for radiation control purposes.