Impacts of the colemanite on the enhancement of the radiation shielding capacity of polypropylene

Colemanite-polypropylene polymeric material has been fabricated by doping Colemanite material with different ratios 5, 15, 25, and 35 wt% on the polypropylene polymeric material. The produced samples were coded as PC1, PC2, PC3, and PC4, respectively. The phenomenon ionizing radiation shielding capacity of the fabricated material has been examined. The fabricated polymers' density measurement showed that the density increased between 1.06 and 1.59 g/cm(3). The Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate effective shielding parameters. The linear attenuation coefficient of the prepared materials increased with the increase in Colemanite content wt%. Opposite to the linear attenuation coefficient, the half-value layer (HVL) is found to follow the order (PC1)(HVL) < (PC2)(HVL) < (PC3)(HVL) < (PC4)(HVL). The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) for all fabricated polymers varied around 100% at gamma-ray photons with an energy of 15 keV. These values were reduced by raising the photon energy to 9.209%, 10.465%, 12.220%, and 13.893% for PC1, PC2, PC3, and PC4, respectively. The RPE shows an increase with the rise in fabricated polymer thickness and the Colemanite ratio in the fabricated polymer. Increasing the colemanite concentration in the fabricated polymer samples causes an observable decrease in both the exposure and energy absorption buildup factors.

Automated summary

A Colemanite-polypropylene polymeric material was fabricated by doping different ratios of Colemanite material on polypropylene. The shielding capacity of the material against ionizing radiation was examined. The linear attenuation coefficient and half-value layer of the prepared materials were evaluated, showing an increase with the increase in Colemanite content. The radiation protection efficiency varied around 100% for gamma-ray photons with an energy of 15 keV and decreased with higher photon energy and increasing Colemanite concentration.