An alternative X-ray shielding material based on coated textiles

Lead-shielding products, such as lead aprons, are important materials for personal protection of physicians and patients from X-ray radiation during medical operations. However, lead has environmental disadvantages, with high toxicity. The aim of this study was to manufacture an environmentally friendly and flexible textile-based radiation shielding material. Tungsten, bismuth and barium sulfate powders were used as alternatives to lead with recognized shielding abilities against X-rays. The cotton fabrics were coated with silicone rubber that contains tungsten, bismuth or barium sulfate powders in equal weight fractions. X-ray attenuation ratios of the samples were measured at 80, 100 and 150kV tube voltages in accordance with medical protection standards. Using the theoretical models, the thicknesses required for 90%, 95% and 99% attenuation ratios at the 100kV energy level were also estimated for all the materials. The results showed that, at 60% weight ratio, 1.55mm bismuth embedded coating can attenuate 90% of X-ray photons at the 100kV level, while the required thickness of a tungsten embedded coating is 1.73mm for the same protection level. At the same weight ratios the bismuth-silicone rubber blend reached better attenuation ratios per thickness in comparison with tungsten and barium sulfate powder-silicone rubber blends.