Performance-related structural, thermal, and gamma-ray shielding properties for newly fabricated Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 nano composite doped polypropylene films

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the processing of structural and thermal for polypropylene (PP) modified with Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles. The PP/Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanocomposites are manufactured by melt processing method. The structural investigations ensure the good incorporation of Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 on the PP matrix. It is noticed that adding Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles to the PP polymer matrix enhances the polymer's thermal stability. Additionally, the impacts of the addition of the Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles on the radiation shielding properties of fabricated PP-based composites were examined using the Monte Carlo simulation. The examination shows an enhancement in the fabricated composites’ linear attenuation coefficient with increased Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticle concentrations. The linear attenuation coefficient increased by 13.12, 3.95, 2.35, 1.55, and 1.16 times at γ-ray energy of 0.033, 0.059, 0.081, 0.122, and 0.662 MeV. Furthermore, the increase in linear attenuation coefficient increases the radiation shielding efficiency for the fabricated composites, reaching 21.84%, 27.27%, 29.03%, and 31.77%, respectively, for 0.0 wt.%, 5.0 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 15 wt.%, at 0.122 MeV. The study shows that the fabricated composites have suitable γ-ray shielding properties in lower energy than in the intermediate energy interval.