Pages: 199-211

Authors: Mona M. Gouda, Mona Shelby, Khulud Habanjar, Amro Obeid, Ramadan Awad, and Mohamed S. Badawi

Abstract

Polypropylene was produced using compression molding and combined with bulk Bi²O³/CuO, and Bi²O³/CuO nanocomposites at various filler weight fractions (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 %). Gamma-ray energies from four radioactive sources (²⁴¹Am, ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁶⁰Co), ranging from 59.53 keV to 1332.5 keV, were used to evaluate the radiation attenuation capabilities of the new PP/Bi²O³/CuO polymer composite. Parameters such as the mass attenuation coefficients, total molecular cross-section, effective atomic cross-section, total electronic cross-section, electron density, effective atomic number, half-value layer, tenth value layer, and relaxation length were examined. The results underscored the significant influence of both the size and weight fraction of Bi²O³/CuO fillers on the gamma-ray shielding ability of the polypropylene composite, particularly at lower gamma-ray energy levels. Pure lead, a traditional and widely used shielding material, was used as a reference to assess the effectiveness of the polypropylene composite's half-value layer. Polypropylene composites incorporating nano-sized Bi²O³/CuO exhibited notable improvements in attenuation parameters, highlighting their potential for radiation protection and gamma-ray shielding applications.

Key words: polypropylene composite, Bi2O3/CuO nanocomposite, attenuation parameter, radiation protection

FULL PAPER IN PDF FORMAT (798 KB)