Elastic Properties of Some Glasses After Neutron Irradiation

The changes in Young's modulus brought about in various glasses by exposure to irradiation in a nuclear reactor are reported. These changes are a function of glass composition and particularly of the alkali content. The proposed interpretation of the changes observed at low doses is based on comparisons with the temperature ratio of Young's modulus and consideration is given to both a "hot" structural configuration and a rearrangement in cation sites. The changes observed at higher doses are explained by an increase in the specific gravity due to compaction and those at very high doses by tempering.