Comparison of Irradiation Effect on Borosilicate Glass Irradiated with Heavy Ion and Gamma Ray

To study the macroscopic and microscopic properties and their corresponding relation of high level waste glass after different irradiation methods, borosilicate glass was irradiated with gamma ray and heavy ion. The hardness and modulus of borosilicate glass irradiated with Xe ion and gamma ray were measured. For irradiation of gamma ray, there is no obvious change in hardness and modulus of borosilicate glass until the absorption dose up to 6×10⁶ Gy. For irradiation of Xe ion, the hardness and modulus of borosilicate glass drop to the saturated values with irradiation dose of 0.1 dpa. Absorption spectra of gamma ray irradiated borosilicate glass were measured. The trend that band gap of borosilicate glass evolved with the absorption dose was obtained. The origin and possible formation mechanism of micro defects in borosilicate glass induced by irradiation of gamma ray were discussed. It can be obtained that the decreases in hardness and modulus of borosilicate glass irradiated with heavy ion are attributed to the breakdown of glass network. Furthermore, the breakdown is mainly induced by the nuclear energy deposition. Comparison of different trends in hardness and modulus of glass irradiated with heavy ion and gamma ray suggests that micro defects in glass could be produced by irradiation of gamma ray. The micro defect of non-bridging oxygen hole center is mainly formed from the breaking of the end of network. The end of network in glass is connected to sodium. The breakdown of end of network in glass might have no influence on network of glass. Thus, influence on hardness and modulus of borosilicate glass will not be induced by the micro defect with irradiation of gamma ray.