Synthesis, characterization and low energy photon attenuation studies of bone tissue substitutes

Abstract

AbstractEpoxy composites with different weight percentages of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate were synthesized as bone tissue substitutes (BTS) for internal dosimetry. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that no chemical reaction occurred between the polymer and the fillers. Thermogravimetric analysis also showed improvement in the thermal properties of the composites due to the fillers. The uniform distribution of fillers in the epoxy matrix was established by X-ray radiography. The attenuation behavior of BTS was probed for low energy γ source 241Am (59.5 keV) using planar HPGe detector. The measured mass attenuation coefficients of BTS were found to match with the values calculated using XCOM software. The radiological properties derived for these composites were found to be on par with those of ICRU-44 cortical bone and B-100 bone equivalent plastic.