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 150 kV tube voltages in accordance with medical protection standards. Using the theoretical models, the thicknesses required for 90%, 95% and 99% attenuation ratios at the 100 kV energy level were also estimated for all the materials. The results showed that, at 60% weight ratio, 1.55 mm bismuth embedded coating can attenuate 90% of X-ray photons at the 100 kV level, while the required thickness of a tungsten embedded coating is 1.73 mm 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.