Radiation shielding made from barium sulfate coated nano-fiber sheets

Abstract

     The radiation protection in radio-diagnosis based on principles of minimal doses for maximum benefit (ALARA, AS Low As Reasonable Achievable). There are 3 methods to protect the radiation, minimize the working time, maximize the distance between the workers and radiation source and use of radiation shielding equipment. This research aims to produce X-ray shielding with flexible materials to create various type of radiation protection equipment. The fibers are produced by Electro-spinning process made from Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for 2 hours to get 50 µm thickness fiber. After cutting the fiber sheets to the size 10x10 cm² and coated with Barite, the final average thickness are 200 µm. The uniformity of the Barite coated on the nano-sheets was tested by radiography and the coefficient of variation of the film densities. The percentage attenuation of radiation through each barite coated nano-sheet were measured at the voltage 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 20 kVp and mass attenuation coefficient of barite coated nano-fiber sheets were tested at the same exposure techniques. In this research, we produced 18 validated nano-fibers. The results showed the uniformity of barite coated nano-fiber sheets with average percentage coefficient of variation 0.96 percent.  Results of measurement of percentage attenuation of radiation through each barite coated nano-sheet overlapping of 18 sheets were 99.38, 99.05, 99.03, 98.50, 97.99, 96.65 and 95.60, respectively. Results of coefficient of mass attenuation tended to decrease at various energy levels were 10.79, 10.71, 10.24, 9.75, 9.36, 8.44, and 8.49 cm²g^-1, respectively, In conclusion, barite coated nano-fibers sheets in this study are effective in preventing x-rays at various energy levels in radio-diagnosis. It can be utilized in the manufacture of radiation protection equipment both for primary and secondary beam.