Ahmed G. Hassabo

The widespread use of toxic lead in radiation shielding materials poses serious environmental and health concerns, necessitating the development of safer alternatives. This study addresses this challenge by developing innovative multilayered polymer composites as eco-friendly, lead-free materials for X-ray attenuation. Gelatin-BaSO₄ dual composite coatings were applied to polyester and cotton fabrics using the pad-dry method to create lightweight and flexible shielding materials. In methodology, the effects of BaSO₄ concentration (40–60%), coating layers (1–5), and low-energy X-rays (up to 60 keV) on attenuation efficiency were systematically examined. The results revealed that FTIR analysis confirmed physical interactions between gelatin and BaSO₄, while SEM micrographs showed uniform dispersion of BaSO₄ within the polymer matrix. Additionally, increasing BaSO₄ content and layer number markedly enhanced X-ray shielding performance, with a five-layer coating containing 60% w/w BaSO₄ achieving 84.73% attenuation at 60 keV. TGA results indicated that higher BaSO₄ loadings improved thermal stability, elevating decomposition temperatures to 498 °C. The coatings also exhibited hydrophobicity and retained adequate flexibility despite a slight reduction in tensile strength. In conclusion, these findings elucidate that BaSO₄-based multilayer composites offer a sustainable, efficient, and lead-free solution for radiation protection in medical, industrial, and nuclear applications.

This study investigates gelatine and sodium alginate as novel thickening agents for pigment textile printing using natural eco-friendly binders. As a thickener and binder, gelatine was tested in different ratios to sodium alginate. The study found that shear rate significantly affected gelatine gel-based thickener shear stress and viscosity. The study examined gelatine-based thickening agents’ elasticity and performance when thinned. The study found that adding sodium alginate increases apparent viscosity compared to gelatine gel alone. A 50:50 gelatine-alginate thickener ratio produces optimal printing paste viscosity. The samples with gelatine and sodium alginate had the highest K/S, while those without gelatine had the lowest. The study tested printed fabrics for light, washing, sweat, and rubbing fastness. All printed fabrics with pigment and gelatine/alginate (1:1) thickener had deeper color depth. After 15 days at ambient temperature, gelatine-based thickening printed fabrics were tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.

Flaxseed gum (FSG) comprises neutral and acidic polysaccharides. Research shows that flaxseed gums with high arabinoxylan concentration have shear thinning and weak gel-like properties, whereas those with high acidic monosaccharides have decreased rheology. FT-IR and DSC tests described a bio-PCM composite made from flaxseed gum and fatty acid anhydrides. The study examined how fatty acid type affects bio-synthesized composite materials made from flaxseeds and various fatty acids with and without octadecane as phase transition materials. In the final composite structure, the fatty acid backbone lengthened, increasing the host material’s latent heat. As phase transition material, 20% octadecane yielded best results. Polymer-based materials (PCM) are used to make bio-synthesized composite materials from flaxseeds and stearic acid. Latent heat of host materials increases with PCM content, optimum at 20% octadecane. The treated cotton cloth regulates temperature better than the untreated. The study shows that PCM composite material treatment creates a homogenous thin coating on cotton fiber surfaces, improving thermal characteristics and heat retention.

This study investigated the rheological properties and printing performance of neem gum as an eco-friendly thickening agent for textile printing. The rheological behavior of neem gum was characterized under various conditions including pH, reducing agents, and storage time. Neem gum exhibited suitable pseudoplastic and thixotropic properties for textile printing applications. The printing performance of neem gum was evaluated on cotton and wool in comparison to conventional thickeners like alginate and gum Arabic. Results showed that neem gum provided comparable or superior color strength, fastness properties, and print definition compared to the conventional thickeners. The printed fabrics also demonstrated improved mechanical properties and UV protection. Additionally, neem gum maintained antimicrobial activity during storage. This study demonstrates the potential of neem gum as an effective, sustainable alternative to synthetic thickeners in textile printing, offering both technical performance and environmental benefits. The study highlights the promising properties of neem gum as a thickener for textile printing applications, showcasing its suitable pseudoplastic and thixotropic characteristics. When applied to cotton and wool fabrics, neem gum not only matched but often surpassed the color strength, fastness properties, and print definition of traditional thickeners like alginate and gum Arabic. Furthermore, the fabrics printed with neem gum exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and provid-ed UV protection, while also maintaining antimicrobial activity during storage. Overall, the findings underscore neem gum's potential as an effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic thickeners in textile printing, combining excellent technical performance with environmental advantages.

The emergence of nanomaterials and nanotechnology has significantly advanced the field of textiles by enhancing traditional products with innovative functionalities and improved performance attributes. This comprehensive review explores the integra-tion of nanotechnology in textile manufacturing, highlighting its applications from intelligent high-performance nanocoatings to enhanced fiber performance using nanoparticles. Nanotechnology offers unprecedented benefits such as enhanced repeatability, reliability, and robustness in textile processing, particularly in finishing, coating, and dyeing applications. A focus on clay miner-als and their geological distribution underscores their vital role in the development of polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) in textiles. This includes a detailed examination of their structural properties, classification, and modification techniques aimed at improving compatibility with polymers. By leveraging clay minerals such as montmorillonite and kaolinite, these composites significantly enhance the physical, mechanical, and functional properties of textiles, offering improved flame retardancy, UV protection, and mechanical strength. This review also addresses the factors influencing nanocomposite production and applica-tion, the role of temperature, pH, and ionic concentration, and the implementation of sustainable synthesis methodologies like supercritical CO2 and sol-gel processes. The findings offer valuable insights into the future of nanotechnology in textiles, pro-moting sustainability and innovation in fabric development.

In this work, the synthesis of smart hosting materials from modified gelatin with different fatty acids (myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid) has been observed and characterized. Coconut oil was used as a natural phase change material (PCM) and octadecanol was used as an organic phase change material. Different concentrations of Phase change materials were impregnated in modified gelatin and applied to cotton and/or dyed cotton fabric with reactive dye. The treatment process was done using two methods, first method, the fabric was pre-treated with PCM composite and then dyed with reactive dye solution, and second method, the fabric was dyed with reactive dye solution and then treated with PCM composite. Smart PCM composite based on modified gelatin produced thermo-regulating properties which are responsible for controlling body temperature. The gelatin/PCM composite and treated cotton fabric were characterized using DSC, FT-IR, and SEM. The results confirmed the synthesis of modified gelatin and also confirmed its reaction with the cotton surface. DSC results showed that the treated cotton fabric with coconut oil composite has the best thermo-regulating properties.

Environmental and industrial safety regulations have increased the possibilities of utilizing enzymes in textile processing to produce environmentally friendly output. An enzyme-based process was investigated to achieve bio discharge printing as an alternative to conventional chemical processes. In the current study, the enzymes polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase which extracted from potato peel (Solanum tuberosum peel) as a natural source of oxidizing agents were employed to selectively discharge printing of naturally dyed cotton and wool fabrics to impart unusual and unique effects.

One of the greatest inventions of the twenty-first century, plastics benefit humans in many facets of life, including con-struction, healthcare, packaging, agriculture, and automobiles. The production of plastic is growing quickly due to rising demand and ease of processing, which is causing a significant amount of garbage to accumulate in the environment. Plastic waste man-agement is an open challenge and a threat to the global environment due to several factors, including a lack of infrastructure, poorly managed recycling facilities and technologies, ineffective waste collection systems, improper and unrestrained disposal practices, and a lack of awareness. Incineration, landfilling, recycling, and reuse were once thought to be the most effective methods for managing plastic garbage, but they were deemed insufficient to address the problem's significant magnitude, and all these methods were considered to conflict with SDG sustainable developed goals. Additionally, plastic waste (PW) can cause cancer, harm to the neurological system, fast genetic changes, and metabolic issues in people because of its chemical makeup and long disintegration times. This article examines plastic waste recycling, focusing on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling through electrospinning to produce nanofiber membranes. The study investigates the effects of different solvent systems and chitosan addition on PET nanofiber morphology and properties. Electrospinning parameters were optimized, and the resulting nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The nanofiber membranes were also evaluated for metal ion adsorption capacity. Results indicate that a TFA/DCM (70:30) solvent mixture produced the most uniform PET nanofibers, with fiber diameter decreasing upon chitosan addition. The PET/chitosan nanofiber membranes demonstrated promising moisture management and metal ion adsorption properties, suggesting potential applications in water purification and filtration. This re-search contributes to addressing plastic waste management challenges while developing value-added products from recycled materials.