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 Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. The PP/Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 nanocomposites are manufactured by melt processing method. The structural investigations ensure the good incorporation of Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 on the PP matrix. It is noticed that adding Ni 0.9 Zn0.1Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles to the PP polymer matrix enhances the polymer's thermal stability. Additionally, the impacts of the addition of the Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 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 Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 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.