A STUDY OF THE PROPERTIES OF LOCAL SHIELDING MATERIALS FOR DIAGNOSTIC X-RAYS
Abstract
Author(s): Esua T.B, Mangset W.E.and Sirisena U.A.I.
X-rays is one of the forms of radiation which is produced when highly energetic electrons hit a metal target and are harmful to man and his environment, but it could be attenuated or shielded dependi ng on the type of medium through which it is produced or traveled. This research was done on the above basis and was carried out at University of JosHealth center using Ray-safe (X-ray Detector). The materials used were; Bricks, concrete, Aluminum, ceramic tiles, colour glass, wood, Perspex and white glass with their normal thickness. The linear attenuation coefficient (µ) of the materials were obtained as 1.03cm-1, 1.05 cm-1, 2.10 cm-1, 1.00 cm-1, 1.75 cm-1, 0.14 cm-1, 0.35 cm-1 and 1.65 cm-1 respectively. The result showed that, Aluminum has the highest linear attenuation coefficient (µ), due to its high level of interaction with the X-rays compared to the other materials and it also has the ability to stop/attenuate X-rays by introducing a thick aluminum sheet of 4.75cm between the X-ray source (tube) and the detector (Ray-safe). The results obtained clearly indicated that aluminum with the thickness 4.75cm would best shield/attenuate 77Vp and 6.3mAs of X-rays source effectively. From the finding of this study, it is recommended that Aluminum which is cheap and can be locally sourced and can be used in place of the industrial Lead of thickness 0.15cm that has the linear Attenuation coefficient of 63.50 cm-1, which is more expensive in diagnostic X-rays. Now we will come to understand the fact that, the higher the X-rays (radiation) shielding, the higher the prevention of man and his environment from the harmful effect of X-rays beam (Radiation) produced.
