Evaluation of Shielding Performance of Gamma Ray Shielding Tungsten Polymer Composite with LBL-Type Layered Structure

Abstract

Lead has conventionally been the primary material for shielding radioactive isotopes in medical contexts. In response to environmental concerns, our study proposes an eco-friendly alternative—a gamma ray shielding material utilizing tungsten. Unlike prior research, in our study, the shielding performance through a laminated structure is evaluated, employing a randomly stacked arrangement of tungsten particles. The shielding product was developed by electrospinning a tungsten and polyurethane polymer mixture, with precise control over the radiation speed and time. The irregular stacking of tungsten particles is expected to reduce incident radiation intensity through scattering and absorption. Radiation shielding experiments on isotopes (99mTc, 18F, and 131I) compared our material to standard lead at varying distances. For 99mTc, at a 0.1 m distance, our 1.0 mm thick material exhibits a shielding performance of 67.54%, surpassing that of a 0.25 mm lead plate (58.95%) and matching that of a 0.50 mm plate (69.24%). These findings demonstrate the promising potential of our tungsten-based material in nuclear medicine, proving its efficacy as a shield for radioactive isotopes. Our research introduces an eco-friendly alternative to lead-based shielding in medical settings, showcasing the effectiveness of our tungsten-based material in reducing incident radiation intensity. The demonstrated outcomes position it as a viable option for enhancing safety in nuclear medicine applications.