INVESTIGATION OF X-RAY ATTENUATION AND THE FLEX RESISTANCE PROPERTIES OF FABRICS COATED WITH TUNGSTEN AND BARIUM SULPHATE ADDITIVES

In this paper, the x-ray attenuation and the flex resistance properties of lead free, textile based shielding materials were investigated. As an alternative to lead, tungsten and barium sulphate powders were used as radiopaque additives in textile. The cotton fabrics were coated with silicone rubber that contains tungsten and barium sulphate powders in equal weight fractions (60%). X-ray attenuation ratios of samples were measured at 80kV, 100kV, and 150kV tube voltages in accordance with medical protection standards. Besides, the durability of the coatings on textile surface against repetitive folding was observed and the surfaces were examined by SEM and EDS techniques. The results showed that the tungsten additives in silicone rubber coating had better attenuation ratios when compared to the samples coated with barium sulphate-silicone rubber at similar thicknesses. In addition to this, tungsten-silicone rubber coated fabrics showed high flex resistance, where some cracks were observed on barium sulphate-silicone rubber coating.