Characterisations and attenuation properties of corn starch-bonded <i>Rhizophora</i> spp. particleboards as water equivalent phantom material at 16.59-25.26 XRF photons and <SUP align="right">99m</SUP>Tc gamma energies

Abstract

Rhizophora spp. particleboards were fabricated at ≤ 74 μm particles size range with addition of corn starch. The physical properties and water equivalent properties of particleboards were evaluated including mass attenuation coefficients at 16.59 to 25.26 keV X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and 99 mTc gamma energies. The addition of corn starch increased the physical properties of the particleboards with the average IB strength, MOR, TS and WA satisfied the minimum of Type 13 of the JIS A 5908 (2003). The calculated effective atomic number of particleboard showed the value of 7.59 close to the value of water (7.42). The particleboard with higher percentage of corn starch showed nearer CT number to water and better density uniformity. The mass attenuation coefficients of the particleboards showed good agreement to water. The overall results indicated the potential of corn starch-bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboards as phantom material at low and diagnostic ranges of photon energies.