A study based on biochar as a reinforcing agent of irradiated waste thermoplastic composite for polymer engineering and electromagnetic shielding applications

Waste polyethylene (WPE) and virgin polyethylene (VPE) (50:50) thermoplastic have been melt-mixed with biochar (BC) made from orange peels at ratios of 5, 10, and 15(Phr) to evaluate how the filler content affected the mechanical, thermal, optical, electrical conductivity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). γ-rays was applied to the prepared specimens to assess how radiation affected the created biocomposites. From the obtained results, the combination of BC with γ-rays, at doses of up to 100 kGy, with thermoplastic resulted in an enhanced mechanical property, particularly for composites containing 15 Phr of BC added because of its unique structure and excellent dispersion. Similarly, the addition of BC into thermoplastic composites raised both thermal as well as optical properties. The electrical conductivity of the studied composites has been carried out at room temperature in the frequency range of 50 Hz-5 MHz. The study shows that for practical applications, blended thermoplastic PE with BC at a ratio of 10 Phr and irradiated with a dosage of 100 kGy lead to enhanced conductivity (ac) and the real portion of dielectric constant (Σ/). Furthermore, the optical properties of the prepared bio-composited have been enhanced by the addition of BC. Additionally, as a shielding application in the X-band, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) was investigated, and shown that efficient EMI shielding is achieved when BC loading into biocomposites recorded high EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) for the higher filler loading 15 Phr of BC, which recorded 4.7 dB with a thickness sheet of 1 mm for biocomposites..