Evaluation of radiation shielding properties of the polyvinyl alcohol/iron oxide polymer composite

• Published in: Journal of medical physics Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 273 - 278
• Main Authors: Srinivasan, K, Samuel, EJames Jabaseelan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2017; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Analysis; Atomic properties; Attenuation coefficients; Bremsstrahlung; Cancer therapies; Chemical elements; Computed tomography; Dosimetry; Electron density; Energy transmission; Half-value layer; Iron compounds; Iron oxides; Kinetic energy; Magnetic properties; Magnetite; mass attenuation coefficient; Mathematical analysis; Medical imaging; Medical research; Metal oxides; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; NMR; Nuclear electric power generation; Nuclear energy; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Nuclear power plants; Physical properties; Physics; Polyethylene; polymer composite; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Radiation (Physics); Radiation shielding; Radiation therapy; relaxation length; shielding properties; Stroke; Studies; Technical Note; Tomography; X-rays; Half-value layer; relaxation length; polymer composite; mass attenuation coefficient; shielding properties
• ISSN: 0971-6203; 1998-3913
• DOI: 10.4103/jmp.JMP_54_17

Lead is the conventional shielding material against gamma/X-rays. It has some limitations such as toxic, high density, nonflexibility, and also bremsstrahlung production during electron interaction. It may affect the accuracy of radiotherapy outcome. To theoretically analyze the radiation shielding properties of flexible polyvinyl alcohol/iron oxide polymer composite with five different concentrations of magnetite over the energy range of 15 KeV-20 MeV. Radiological properties were calculated based on the published literature. Attenuation coefficients of pure elements are generated with the help of WinXCOM database. Effective atomic numbers and electron density are increased with the concentration of magnetite. On the other hand, the number of electrons per gram decreased. Mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ϼ) and linear attenuation coefficients (μ) are higher in the lower energy <100 KeV, and their values decreased when the energy increased. Computed tomography numbers (CT) show the significant variation between the concentrations in <60 KeV. Half-value layer and tenth-value layers are directly proportional to the energy and indirectly proportional to the concentration of magnetite. Transmission curve, relaxation length (ƛ), kinetic energy released in the matter, and elemental weight fraction are also calculated and the results are discussed. 0.5% of the magnetite gives superior shielding properties compared with other concentrations. It may be due to the presence of 0.3617% of Fe. Elemental weight fraction, atomic number, photon energy, and mass densities are the important parameters to understand the shielding behavior of any material.