Abstract
In this study, five different zinc sodium tetraborate glasses based on nominal composition of xCaO-(40-x) ZnO-59Na(2)B(4)O(7)-1CuO were investigated in terms of their extensive mechanical and ionizing radiation resistance properties. Mathematical methodologies and sophisticated modeling techniques were included in the study. The development in elastic moduli parameters (bulk, Young's, shear, and longitudinal) and Poisson's ratio of the heavier CaO content of the CZNBC glasses were confirmed via Makishima-Mackenzie (M-M) and bond compression (B-C) models. The B-C bulk elastic (KB-C) modulus was found to increase from 112.22 to 120.40 GPa, while the M-M bulk (KM-M) modulus increased from 15.73 to 22.83 GPa for CZNBC-0 (glass sample free with CaO) and CZNBC-40 (glass sample rich with CaO), respectively. On the other hand, our findings showed that gamma radiation shielding properties decreased with increasing CaO contribution in the glass structure. Consequently, a direct relationship was observed between the changing trends of mechanical and gamma ray shielding properties. It can be concluded that increasing CaO may be beneficial for improving the mechanical characteristics of zinc sodium tetraborate glasses, while decreasing ZnO/CaO may result in a reduction in gamma ray shielding capabilities. Graphic Abstract