Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses

Abstract With a focus on extending the horizons of combining electronic waste (e-waste) with different materials for creating efficient, affordable, eco-friendly, and sustainable radiation shielding composites, the present study investigates the radiation shielding performance of different composite...

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Main Authors: Doaa A. Elsayed, Mohamed Elsafi, Esraa H. Abdel-Gawad, Shoaa M. Al-Balawi, M. I Sayyed, Ibrahim H. Saleh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10920-3
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author Doaa A. Elsayed
Mohamed Elsafi
Esraa H. Abdel-Gawad
Shoaa M. Al-Balawi
M. I Sayyed
Ibrahim H. Saleh
author_facet Doaa A. Elsayed
Mohamed Elsafi
Esraa H. Abdel-Gawad
Shoaa M. Al-Balawi
M. I Sayyed
Ibrahim H. Saleh
author_sort Doaa A. Elsayed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract With a focus on extending the horizons of combining electronic waste (e-waste) with different materials for creating efficient, affordable, eco-friendly, and sustainable radiation shielding composites, the present study investigates the radiation shielding performance of different composites made of silicon rubber and e-waste glass. Six samples were prepared by mixing different amounts of powdered cathode ray tube (CRT) glass (0–50%) with silicon rubber (100–50%). The linear attenuation coefficients (LAC’s) of the prepared samples were experimentally measured using a high-purity germanium detector and varying energy gamma sources. Other radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), transmission factor (TF), mean free path (MFP), half value layer (HVL) and radiation attenuation ratio (RAR) were calculated. The sample with the highest CRT content (SR-CRT-50) showed the highest efficiency superior to the rest of the prepared samples with maximum LAC (2.051 cm−1), maximum MAC (1.1890 cm2/g), minimum HVL (0.338 cm), and minimum TF (0.357) at the lowest energy level of 0.060 MeV. The additive of waste CRT glass to the matrix also improve the mechanical and thermal properties of composites, and accordingly the weight loss at about 620 ± 15 °C was 70.09%, 53.17%, and 32.37% for SR-CRT-0, SR-CRT-30, and SR-CRT-50, respectively. Clearly, this study demonstrated that adding waste CRT glass to the silicone rubber polymer increased its performance as a shield against ionizing photons.
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spelling doaj-art-cde17b02beb4497485170bc70a8f162f2025-08-20T04:02:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-10920-3Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glassesDoaa A. Elsayed0Mohamed Elsafi1Esraa H. Abdel-Gawad2Shoaa M. Al-Balawi3M. I Sayyed4Ibrahim H. Saleh5Environmental Studies Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria UniversityPhysics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria UniversityEnvironmental Studies Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria UniversityGeneral Science Program-Deanship of Support Studies, Alasala UniversityDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra UniversityEnvironmental Studies Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria UniversityAbstract With a focus on extending the horizons of combining electronic waste (e-waste) with different materials for creating efficient, affordable, eco-friendly, and sustainable radiation shielding composites, the present study investigates the radiation shielding performance of different composites made of silicon rubber and e-waste glass. Six samples were prepared by mixing different amounts of powdered cathode ray tube (CRT) glass (0–50%) with silicon rubber (100–50%). The linear attenuation coefficients (LAC’s) of the prepared samples were experimentally measured using a high-purity germanium detector and varying energy gamma sources. Other radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), transmission factor (TF), mean free path (MFP), half value layer (HVL) and radiation attenuation ratio (RAR) were calculated. The sample with the highest CRT content (SR-CRT-50) showed the highest efficiency superior to the rest of the prepared samples with maximum LAC (2.051 cm−1), maximum MAC (1.1890 cm2/g), minimum HVL (0.338 cm), and minimum TF (0.357) at the lowest energy level of 0.060 MeV. The additive of waste CRT glass to the matrix also improve the mechanical and thermal properties of composites, and accordingly the weight loss at about 620 ± 15 °C was 70.09%, 53.17%, and 32.37% for SR-CRT-0, SR-CRT-30, and SR-CRT-50, respectively. Clearly, this study demonstrated that adding waste CRT glass to the silicone rubber polymer increased its performance as a shield against ionizing photons.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10920-3CRT-glassMechanicalRadiation absorption ratioShieldingSilicon rubberThermal
spellingShingle Doaa A. Elsayed
Mohamed Elsafi
Esraa H. Abdel-Gawad
Shoaa M. Al-Balawi
M. I Sayyed
Ibrahim H. Saleh
Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
Scientific Reports
CRT-glass
Mechanical
Radiation absorption ratio
Shielding
Silicon rubber
Thermal
title Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
title_full Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
title_fullStr Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
title_full_unstemmed Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
title_short Gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled CRT glasses
title_sort gamma ray shielding capability of flexible silicone rubber composites reinforced with recycled crt glasses
topic CRT-glass
Mechanical
Radiation absorption ratio
Shielding
Silicon rubber
Thermal
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10920-3
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