ANALYSIS OF ALOE VERA AND LEAD (II) ACETATE (Pb(CH3COO)2) COMPOSITE SYNTHESIS AS A CANDIDATE APRON MATERIAL

Abstract

The use of radiation, particularly X-rays, poses health risks when exposure occurs at high doses and over prolonged periods. Lead-based aprons are commonly used as protective shielding; however, they are heavy, rigid, and toxic. This study aimed to analyze the effect of varying compositions of Aloe vera powder and Lead(II) Acetate on the X-ray radiation absorption effectiveness of composite apron materials and to determine the optimal composition for effective X-ray attenuation. Aloe vera powder was prepared through drying, grinding, and sieving using an 80-mesh sieve. The composites were synthesized using a chemical method with three composition ratios of Aloe vera powder to Lead(II) Acetate: 100:0%, 80:20%, and 60:40%, while polyester resin was used as the matrix material. The characterization included density measurement, X-ray radiation absorption performance (half-value layer (HVL), linear attenuation coefficient, and Radiation Absorption Ratio (RAR)), and internal bond (IB) strength testing. The relationships among variables were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. The results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of Lead(II) Acetate enhanced the density of the composites (from 1.03 to 1.18 g/cm³), reduced the HVL (from 0.621 to 0.240 cm), and increased both the linear attenuation coefficient (from 1.116 to 2.887 cm⁻¹) and the RAR (from 74.99% to 89.26%). The equivalent thickness value decreased from 0.28 to 0.24 cm, while the internal bond strength increased significantly from 6.46 to 13.24 kg/cm². Pearson correlation analysis revealed a very strong relationship between the composite composition and X-ray radiation absorption effectiveness (r = 0.917). It can be concluded that the variation in composite composition significantly affects X-ray radiation absorption performance, with the optimal composition obtained in Sample C, consisting of 60% Aloe vera powder and 40% Lead(II) Acetate