B2O3-SrO-Sm2O3 glass systems were fabricated using the rapid-quenching method, incorporating varying concentrations
of ZnO. The FTIR and Raman spectroscopies were employed to characterize the glasses. Physical
properties including density and molar volume were determined, and ultrasonic wave velocities were measured,
allowing for the calculation of elastic moduli. The observed trends in these properties were attributed to the
impact of ZnO. An increase in the glass rigidity, manifested by a higher density, was correlated with an elevated
cross-link density and an increased number of bonds within the glass network. An increase in the molar volume
indicated an expansion of the glass network upon the addition of ZnO. The results suggest that Zn2+ ions
preferentially incorporate into the glass network as ZnO4 units, acting as network formers. The shielding
effectiveness of the glasses was evaluated by analyzing their Zeff, MFP, and HVL. The results demonstrated superior
gamma-ray shielding properties in these glasses, attributed to their higher Zeff and lower MFP and HVL
values. These findings suggested that the prepared glasses had the potential to serve as alternatives to traditional
materials used for γ-ray attenuation.