Influence of temperature and light exposure on UV-vis absorption and colorimetric properties of γ-irradiated soda-lime glass

Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of temperature variations during ionizing radiation processing on soda-lime glass, as well as the bleaching of γ-irradiated samples through exposure to light radiation. Glass samples were subjected to γ-ray doses ranging from 2 kGy to 25 kGy under two temperature conditions: room temperature and dry ice cooling. The effects of ionizing radiation on samples were analyzed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and colorimetry. The results indicate that irradiation at dry ice temperatures significantly mitigates radiation-induced darkening compared to irradiation at room temperature. Additionally, subsequent exposure of irradiated glasses to different light wavelengths was investigated, revealing that UVB radiation effectively restores transparency lost due to irradiation. These findings provide valuable insights for the conservation and restoration of glass-based cultural heritage materials, where preserving original visual properties is essential.