Developing woven jute-matrix composite for radiation effects and shielding efficacy evaluation

Abstract

Concerned about environmental issues, non-biodegradable synthetic, and chemically modified synthetic polymeric materials produce primary and secondary microplastics that affect the ecosystem. The traditional lead-based shielding material has detrimental effects on humans and the environment. Composite products comprising naturally occurring polymers, deployed into matrixes are splendid creations of modern science that ultimately lessen the negative environmental consequences of synthetic polymers. Natural fibers have been utilized in different sectors due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and availability. The woven jute and matrix (polypropylene, polyester, and epoxy resin) have been selected to fabricate reinforcing semi-degradable materials using hand layup stacking sequence techniques. The radiation processing method is applied to improve the physico-mechanical properties of woven jute-matrix composites. The mechanical, thermal, topographical, and chemical properties have been examined using UTM (universal testing machine), DSC-TGA (differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetric analysis), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopic-energy-dispersive spectroscopy), and (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) FTIR for treated and untreated samples of woven jute composites. The impregnated woven jute-matrix composites like “jute-polypropylene (jute-PP)”, “jute-polyester resin (jute-PR)” and “jute-epoxy resin (jute-EPR)” were developed significantly. Firstly, the mechanical properties of 3-layer sequence composites achieved are superior to one- and 2-layer sequence composites. In evaluated jute-matrix composites: initial tensile strength (29 MPa), tensile modulus (1.4 GPa), bending modulus (1.88 GPa), and impact strength (5.88 kJ/m2) were higher in a one-layer jute-polyester resin composite (S4), and Eb% (4.4) was higher in the one-layer jute-polypropylene (S1) composite. Secondly, the 5 kGy doses showed the effective enhancement of mechanical properties. The tensile strength increase (45.37 %) was higher in S7 (one-layer jute-epoxy resin composite) than in S1 (one-layer jute-PP), and S4 (one-layer jute-EPR). The bending strength of 22.87 % increase (43 MPa) was achieved in S1 which is superior to S4 and S7. The tensile modulus increased (40 %) in S1 is superior to S4 (27.35 %) and S7 (10.38 %). The bending modulus was increased tremendously in S1 due to the thermoplastic nature of PP, while S7 is superior to S4 due to the thermosetting nature, same behaved at elongation at break (Eb%) which is the highest Eb % in S1. Except for S1, all the Eb % performed antagonistic effects to impact strength due to radiation, while impact strength (15.64 % kJ/m2) increased in S4 is superior to S7. The water uptake decreased in irradiated samples, thermal properties showed remarkable changes indicating glass transition, crystallization, and degradation of jute-matrix composites. The FTIR and SEM-EDS represented that jute and matrix created uniform bonds with jute-matrix good adhesion which helped to enhance mechanical properties. Thirdly, the shielding efficacy of jute-PP, jute-PR, and jute-EPR composites was performed in the thumb rule indicating the highest mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) in S1. At the same time, S4 showed the lowest linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), a good half-value layer (HVL), a tenth-value layer (TVL), and a sixth-value layer (SVL). Consequently, S4 showed the lowest mean free path (MFP) and highest radiation protection efficiency. Thus, woven jute-matrix composites can be applied to reduce dependency on lead-based shielding materials. The findings of woven jute matrix composites can play a vital role in developing polymeric materials for engineering applications in environmental remediation.