Effective shielding elements and oxides for medical X-ray applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Medical Physics
• Radiation Shielding

Background:

• Lead (Pb) is a traditional material for X-ray shielding but poses environmental and health concerns.
• Developing effective, lightweight, and thinner X-ray shielding alternatives is crucial for medical imaging advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate elements with atomic numbers 55-83 and their oxides as potential lead substitutes for X-ray shielding.
• To assess shielding effectiveness across a broad energy range (10 keV to 500 keV) for various medical applications.

Main Methods:

• Calculated Pb-equivalent mass and thickness ratios for candidate elements and oxides.
• Compared broad-beam and narrow-beam attenuation, and mono-energetic vs. X-ray tube spectra.
• Conducted measurements and calculations for 0.5 mm Pb as a reference.

Main Results:

• Tantalum (Ta), Tungsten (W), and lead/bismuth oxides are suitable for mammography (15 keV).
• Samarium (Sm), Neodymium (Nd), Bismuth (Bi), and various oxides are effective for dental X-ray shielding (approx. 50 keV).
• Lead/bismuth oxides are preferred for CT scans, while Bi and W are suitable for high-energy X-rays.

Conclusions:

• Lead-free X-ray shielding solutions using elements 55-83 and their oxides are viable.
• Specific materials demonstrate optimal performance for different medical imaging modalities.
• Findings support the development of safer and more efficient X-ray shielding technologies.