Effect of Magnesium (Mg) to the Optical and Absorption Gamma-Ray Properties of Composite Shield Cassava Starch /Fe3O4/Mg

Abstract Optical and absorption properties of composite shield cassava-starch/Fe3O4/Mg have been studied for various amounts of Mg (0.05 gr, 0.075 gr, and 0.1 gr) by using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and an IBT 103 Irradiator equipped with a Cs-137 radioactive source (emitting γ-rays with an energy of 662 keV), respectively. The quantitative analysis of the FTIR spectra has allowed to determine the refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), dielectric functions (e), and energy loss function (Im (−1/e)) by applying the Kramers-Kronig (K–K) relations. The transversal optical (TO) phonon frequency is shifted by 1 cm−1 to higher wave numbers by increasing the amount of Mg in the composite. This indicates a small effect on the optical properties of the lattice when O atoms are partially replaced by Mg ones in the bonding with Fe (probably forming MgxFeO1-x). The plasma frequency of the composite cassava starch/Fe3O4/Mg, for various amounts of Mg, remains constant at 1126 cm−1 indicating the formation of a stable bonding between the MgxFeO1-x filler and the cassava starch matrix. The highest linear attenuation coefficient and tensile strength are 4.633 cm−1 and 73.19 Mpa, respectively, for the highest amount of Mg in the composite (APMG 0.1). These results indicate that the composite cassava starch/Fe3O4/Mg shows a high potential as a new type of apron in several applications with γ-rays.