Gamma ray shielding properties of composites doped with rice bran wax and waste polyethylene

This work investigates the gamma-ray shielding properties of composites based on recycled polyethylene. The designed shielding materials are low-cost and sustainable plastic wastes with different percentages of rice bran wax. Composite samples were prepared by blending rice bran wax with recycled polyethylene at five different ratios ranging from 0 % to 50 %. Experimental, theoretical, and simulation studies were carried out on the mass attenuation coefficient, linear attenuation coefficient, mean free path, and half-value layer over an energy range of 80.99-383.84 keV. The results showed that adding rice bran wax to the composites increased their gamma-ray absorption capacity, and that using recycled polyethylene reduced production costs. Of the composites studied, RBX50 exhibited the greatest attenuation capacity, with an LAC of 0.196 cm^-1 and an HVL of 3.53 cm at 80.99 keV. This indicates its effectiveness in shielding against low-energy gamma rays. The attenuation parameters obtained for RBX50 suggest that, if RBX50 were incorporated into thermoplastic materials, it has the potential to enhance the radiation shielding properties of thermoplastic masks. Thermoplastic masks, which are widely used in radiotherapy, help to keep patients in the correct position and protect their healthy tissues from unnecessary radiation exposure.