Novel Polymer Composites for Lead-Free Shielding Applications

Polymer nanocomposites have recently been introduced as lead-free shielding materials for use in medical and industrial applications. In this work, novel shielding materials were developed using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mixed with four different filler materials. These four materials are cement, cement with iron oxide, cement with aluminum oxide, and cement with bismuth oxide. Different weight percentages were used including 5%, 15%, and 50% of the cement filler with LDPE. Furthermore, different weight percentages of different combinations of the filler materials were used including 2.5%, 7.5%, and 25% (i.e., cement and iron oxide, cement and aluminum oxide, cement and bismuth oxide) with LDPE. Bismuth oxide was a nanocomposite, and the remaining oxides were micro-composites. Characterization included structural properties, physical features, mechanical and thermal properties, and radiation shielding efficiency for the prepared composites. The results show that a clear improvement in the shielding efficiency was observed when the filler materials were added to the LDPE. The best result out of all these composites was obtained for the composites of bismuth oxide (25 wt.%) cement (25 wt.%) and LDPE (50 wt.%) which have the lowest measured mean free path (MFP) compared with pure LDPE. The comparison shows that the average MFP obtained from the experiments for all the eight energies used in this work was six times lower than the one for pure LDPE, reaching up to twelve times lower for 60 keV energy. The best result among all developed composites was observed for the ones with bismuth oxide at the highest weight percent 25%, which can block up to 78% of an X-ray.

Study of Prepared Lead-Free Polymer Nanocomposites for X- and Gamma-ray Shielding in Healthcare Applications

Polymer composites were synthesized via melt mixing for radiation shielding in the healthcare sector. A polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) matrix was filled with Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% weight percentages. The characterization of nanocomposites included their morphological, structural, and thermal properties, achieved using SEM, XRD, and TGA, respectively. The shielding properties for all synthesized samples including pristine PMMA were measured with gamma spectrometry using a NaI (Tl) scintillator detector spanning a wide range of energies and using different radioisotopes, namely Am-241 (59.6 keV), Co-57 (122.2 keV), Ra-226 (242.0), Ba-133 (80.99 and 356.02 keV), Cs-137 (661.6 keV), and Co-60 (1173.2 and 1332.5 keV). A substantial increase in the mass attenuation coefficients was obtained at low and medium energies as the filler weight percentage increased, with minor variations at higher gamma energies (1173 and 1332 keV). The mass attenuation coefficient decreased with increasing energy except under 122 keV gamma rays due to the K-absorption edge of bismuth (90.5 keV). At 40% loading of Bi₂O_3, the mass attenuation coefficient for the cesium ¹³⁷Cs gamma line at 662 keV reached the corresponding value for the toxic heavy element lead. The synthesized PMMA-Bi₂O₃ nanocomposites proved to be highly effective, lead-free, safe, and lightweight shielding materials for X- and gamma rays within a wide energy range (<59 keV to 1332 keV), making them of interest for healthcare applications.

Piezo-Resistive Flexible Pressure Sensor by Blade-Coating Graphene-Silver Nanosheet-Polymer Nanocomposite

The demand for flexible pressure sensors in wearable devices is dramatically increasing. However, challenges still exist in making flexible pressure sensors, including complex or costly fabrication processes and difficulty in mass production. In this paper, a new method is proposed for preparing the flexible pressure sensors that combines an imprinting technique with blade-coating of a graphene-silver nanosheet-polymer nanocomposite. The piezo-resistive type flexible pressure sensor consists of interdigital electrodes and nanocomposite as a sensing layer, as well as a micropillar array structure. The morphology of the sensitive layer of the sensor is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The response performance, sensitivity, and stability of the sensor are investigated. The test results show that the initial resistance of the pressure sensor is only 1.6 Ω, the sensitivity is 0.04 kPa^-1, and the response time is about 286 ms. In addition, a highly hydrophobic wetting property can be observed on the functional structure surface of the sensor. The contact angle is 137.2 degrees, revealing the self-cleaning property of the sensor. Finally, the prepared sensor is demonstrated as a wearable device, indicating promising potential in practical applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of the Mixed Metal Oxide of ZnO-TiO2 Decorated by Polyaniline as a Protective Film for Acidic Steel Corrosion: Experimental, and Computational Inspections

In this work, the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a novel nanocomposite using polyaniline (PANi) functionalized bi-metal oxide ZnO-TiO₂ (ZnTiO@PANi) as shielding film for carbon steel (CS)-alloy in acidic chloride solution at 298 K was studied. Different spectroscopic characterization techniques, such as UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) approaches, as well as other physicochemical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), were used to describe the produced nanocomposites. The significance of these films lies in the ZnO-TiO₂ nanoparticle's functionalization by polyaniline, a material with high conductivity and electrochemical stability in acidic solutions. The mechanistic findings of the corrosion inhibition method were obtained by the use of electrochemical methods including open-circuit potentials (OCP) vs. time, potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicate that the synthesized ZnTiO@PANi is a powerful acidic corrosion inhibitor, and its inhibition effectiveness is 98.86% in the presence of 100 ppm. Additionally, the charge transfer resistance (R_p) value augmented from 51.8 to 432.7, and 963.7 Ω cm² when the dose of PANi, and ZnTiO@PANi reached 100 ppm, respectively. The improvement in R_p and inhibition capacity values with an increase in nanocomposite dose is produced by the nanocomposite additives covering a larger portion of the surface, resulting in a decrease in alloy corrosion. By identifying the probable regions for molecule adsorption on the steel substrate, theoretical and computational studies provided significant details regarding the corrosion mitigation mechanism. The possibility of substituting old poisonous small substances with inexpensive and non-hazardous polymeric materials as shielding layers for utilization in the oilfield sectors is an important suggestion made by this research.

Electroactive polymeric nanocomposite BC-g-(Fe3O4/GO) materials for bone tissue engineering: in vitro evaluations

Tissue engineering is a cutting-edge approach for using advanced biomaterials to treat defective bone to get desired clinical results. In bone tissue engineering, the scaffolds must have the desired physicochemical and biomechanical natural properties in order to regenerate complicated defective bone. For the first time, polymeric nanocomposite material was developed using cellulose and co-dispersed nanosystem (Fe₃O₄/GO) by free radical polymerization to fabricate porous polymeric scaffolds via freeze drying. Various characterizations techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and universal testing machine (UTM) were used to investigate structural, morphological, and mechanical properties. Swelling, biodegradation, and wetting analysis were also performed to evaluate their physicochemical behavior. Intercalation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into GO-sheets promoted their dispersion into the polymeric matrix. All porous scaffolds possessed a well-interconnected porous structure, while the synergistic effect of Fe₃O₄/GO reinforces the mechanical strength of porous scaffolds. The compressive strength and Young's modulus were increased by increasing Fe₃O₄ amount, and maximum mechanical strength was found in HFG-4 and least in HFG-1. However, these porous scaffolds have different swelling and biodegradation behavior due to the variable Fe₃O₄ intercalations into GO-sheets. Antibacterial activities of porous scaffolds were studied against severe Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens and increased Fe₃O₄ amount in nanosystem increased the antibacterial activities. The cell viability and morphology of pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cell lines were studied against porous scaffolds and increased cell viability and proliferation were observed from HFG-1 to HFG-4. Hence, the electroactive material could be the potential material for bone tissue engineering.

Synthesis, Characterization and Electrochemical Performance of a Redox-Responsive Polybenzopyrrole@Nickel Oxide Nanocomposite for Robust and Efficient Faraday Energy Storage

A polybenzopyrrole@nickel oxide (Pbp@NiO) nanocomposite was synthesized by an oxidative chemical one-pot method and tested as an active material for hybrid electrodes in an electrochemical supercapattery device. The as-prepared composite material exhibits a desirable 3D cross-linked nanostructured morphology and a synergistic effect between the polymer and metal oxide, which improved both physical properties and electrochemical performance. The unprocessed material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy disperse X-ray analysis, and thermogravimetry. The nanocomposite material was deposited without a binder on gold current collectors and investigated for electrochemical behavior and performance in a symmetrical two- and three-electrode cell setup. A high specific capacity of up to 105 C g^-1 was obtained for the Pbp@NiO-based electrodes with a gravimetric energy density of 17.5 Wh kg^-1, a power density of 1925 W kg^-1, and excellent stability over 10,000 cycles.

LDPE/Bismuth Oxide Nanocomposite: Preparation, Characterization and Application in X-ray Shielding

Recently developed polymer-based composites could prove useful in many applications such as in radiation shielding. In this work, the potential of a bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) nanofiller based on an LDPE polymer was developed as lead-free X-ray radiation shielding offering the benefits of lightness, low-cost and non-toxic compared to pure lead. Three different LDPE-based composites were prepared with varying weight percentages of Bi₂O₃: 5%, 10% and 15%. The characterizations were extended to include structural properties, physical features, mechanical and thermal properties, and radiation shielding efficiency for the prepared nanocomposites. The results revealed that the incorporation of the Bi₂O₃ nanofiller into an LDPE improved the density of the composites. There was also a slight increase in the tensile strength and tensile modulus. In addition, there was a clear improvement in the efficiency of the shield when fillers were added to the LDPE polymer. The LDPE + Bi₂O₃ (15%) composite needed the lowest thickness to attenuate 50% of the incident X-rays. The LDPE + Bi₂O₃ (15%) polymer can also block around 80% of X-rays at 47.9 keV. In real practice, a thicker shield of the proposed composite materials, or a higher percentage of the filler could be employed to safely ensure the radiation is blocked.

Biodegradable Antimicrobial Food Packaging: Trends and Perspectives

This review presents a perspective on the research trends and solutions from recent years in the domain of antimicrobial packaging materials. The antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities can be induced by the main polymer used for packaging or by addition of various components from natural agents (bacteriocins, essential oils, natural extracts, etc.) to synthetic agents, both organic and inorganic (Ag, ZnO, TiO2 nanoparticles, synthetic antibiotics etc.). The general trend for the packaging evolution is from the inert and polluting plastic waste to the antimicrobial active, biodegradable or edible, biopolymer film packaging. Like in many domains this transition is an evolution rather than a revolution, and changes are coming in small steps. Changing the public perception and industry focus on the antimicrobial packaging solutions will enhance the shelf life and provide healthier food, thus diminishing the waste of agricultural resources, but will also reduce the plastic pollution generated by humankind as most new polymers used for packaging are from renewable sources and are biodegradable. Polysaccharides (like chitosan, cellulose and derivatives, starch etc.), lipids and proteins (from vegetal or animal origin), and some other specific biopolymers (like polylactic acid or polyvinyl alcohol) have been used as single component or in blends to obtain antimicrobial packaging materials. Where the package's antimicrobial and antioxidant activities need a larger spectrum or a boost, certain active substances are embedded, encapsulated, coated, grafted into or onto the polymeric film. This review tries to cover the latest updates on the antimicrobial packaging, edible or not, using as support traditional and new polymers, with emphasis on natural compounds.

A Mini-Review on Anion Exchange and Chelating Polymers for Applications in Hydrometallurgy, Environmental Protection, and Biomedicine

The rapidly increasing demand for technologies aiming to resolve challenges of separations and environmental protection causes a sharp increase in the demand for ion exchange (IX) and chelating polymers. These unique materials can offer target-selective adsorption properties vital for the removal or recovery of harmful and precious materials, where trace concentrations thereof make other techniques insufficient. Hence, recent achievements in syntheses of IX and chelating resins designed and developed in our research group are discussed within this mini-review. The aim of the present work is to reveal that, due to the diversified and unique physiochemical characteristics of the proposed materials, they are not limited to traditional separation techniques and could be used in multifunctional areas of applications, including catalysis, heat management, and biomedicine.

Phosphate removal and recovery from water using nanocomposite of immobilized magnetite nanoparticles on cationic polymer

A novel nanocomposite (NC) based on magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) immobilized on the surface of a cationic exchange polymer, C100, using a modification of the co-precipitation method was developed to obtain magnetic NCs for phosphate removal and recovery from water. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy , X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry were used to characterize the NCs. Continuous adsorption process by the so-called breakthrough curves was used to determine the adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4-based NC. The adsorption capacity conditions were studied under different conditions (pH, phosphate concentration, and concentration of nanoparticles). The optimum concentration of iron in the NC for phosphate removal was 23.59 mgFe/gNC. The sorption isotherms of this material were performed at pH 5 and 7. Taking into account the real application of this novel material in real water, the experiments were performed at pH 7, achieving an adsorption capacity higher than 4.9 mgPO4-P/gNC. Moreover, Freundlich, Langmuir, and a combination of them fit the experimental data and were used for interpreting the influence of pH on the sorption and the adsorption mechanism for this novel material. Furthermore, regeneration and reusability of the NC were tested, obtaining 97.5% recovery of phosphate for the first cycle, and at least seven cycles of adsorption-desorption were carried out with more than 40% of recovery. Thus, this work described a novel magnetic nanoadsorbent with properties for phosphate recovery in wastewater.