Andi Dana Rifkasari, Heryanto Heryanto, Dahlang Tahir, S. D. Astuty, Mohammad I Abualsayed, Abdelillah Akouibaa, Yasser Maghrbi, Restu Widiatmono, Ali Hamed Alomari, Roslah Abdullah
Increased exposure to X-rays in the medical sector, necessitates the development of effective and environmentally friendly radiation shielding materials as an alternative to lead. Here, we report the fabrication and characterization of a composite-based flexible radiation-shielding apron with a Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, doped with Bismuth Oxide (Bi2O3) and various concentrations of magnetite (Fe3O4). Sample A1 consisted (4.5 g of HEC-Bi2O3 without Fe3O4), whereas A2 (4 g of HEC-Bi2O3 with 0.5 g of Fe3O4), and A3 (3.5 g of HEC-Bi2O3 with 1 g of Fe3O4), respectively. The evaluation of the shielding capability showed that A2 shows the lowest HVL of 0.185 cm, TVL of 0.617 cm, and MFP of 0.268 cm, signifying the high attenuation performance. Additionally, A2 recorded the highest linear attenuation coefficient of 3.73 cm−1 and mass of 3.53 cm2/g for 60 keV, which is close to the XCOM reference data. Mechanical testing showed that A2 has suitable a tensile strength of 2.73 MPa and Young's modulus of 5.60 MPa as apron material. SEM images confirmed that A2 has the narrowest and most homogeneous particle size distribution (0.76 ± 0.08 μm), whereas A3 showed agglomeration. These results confirm that the addition of 0.5 g Fe3O4 produces the promising mechanical structure and radiation shielding capability, making A2 sample as an promising material for lightweight and sustainable X-ray shielding applications. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Physics Department, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90242, Indonesia; Renewable Energy and Environmental Technology Center, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 47913, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman, Jordan; Rue Tarik Bnou Ziad Casablanca 20100, Casablanca-Settat, LPPSMM, Physics Department, Hassan II University, Casablanca, 7955, Morocco; College of Arts & Sciences, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Hawally, 32093, Kuwait; Physics Education Department, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia; Physics Department, Al-Qunfudah University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24231, Saudi Arabia; Applied Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Physics, Dogus University, Dudullu-Ümraniye, Istanbul, 34775, Turkey
