Unveiling enhanced properties of sustainable hybrid multifunctional graphene nanoplatelets incorporated polylactide/liquid natural rubber/polyaniline bio-nanocomposites for advanced radiation and particle shielding applications

The radiation shielding effectiveness of multifunctional thermoplastic biodegradable polymer incorporated with different loadings of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was investigated. The bio-nanocomposite, fabricated using an ultrasonication-assisted melt compounding technique, was composed of polylactide, liquid natural rubber, polyaniline, and various amounts of GNPs. The inclusion of GNPs has enhanced the crystallinity and thermal stability of the nanocomposites. Fourier transform infrared results confirmed the presence of all characteristic peaks of nanocomposites’ components, yet with no interfacial interaction between GNPs and the neat matrix. Microstructural and mechanical testing showed optimum properties are linked to 0.4 wt% of GNPs. The addition of low-content GNPs revealed a slight variation in shielding features. Despite this result, the 0.8 wt% filled nanocomposite (PLPG4) sample recorded the highest linear attenuation coefficient and lowest half-value layer, while the neat polymer matrix (PLPG0) showed superior mass stopping power against proton and alpha particles at all energies. The dose rate and total macroscopic cross sections for neutrons, which were determined by the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended program code, showed negligible change upon adding GNPs. The fast neutron removal cross section (Σ_R) was the same (0.093 cm⁻¹) for all nanocomposites. These results indicate the potential capability of current bio-nanocomposites for neutron and proton shielding applications.