Abstract
In this study, the gamma radiation properties of four types of surgical-grade stainless steel (304, 304L, 316 and 316L) were investigated. The effective atomic number Z, effective electron density N and half-value layer (HVL) of four types of surgical-grade stainless steel were determined via the mass attenuation coefficient . The coefficients were determined experimentally using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique and theoretically via the WinXCOM program. The K of XRF photons in the energy range between 17.50 and 25.29 keV was used from pure metal plates of molybdenum (Mo), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag) and tin (Sn). A comparison between the experimental and theoretical values of revealed that the experimental values were lower than the theoretical calculations. The relative differences between the theoretical and experimental values were found to decrease with increasing photon energy. The lowest percentage difference between the experimental and theoretical values of was between −6.17% and −9.76% and was obtained at a photon energy of 25.29 keV. Sample 316L showed the highest value of at the energies 21.20, 22.19 and 25.29 keV. In addition, the measured results of Z and N for all samples behaved similarly in the given energy range and were found to be in good agreement with the calculations. The equivalent atomic number (Z) of the investigated stainless-steel samples was calculated using the interpolation method to compare the samples at the same source energy. The 316L stainless steel had higher values of , Z and Z and lower values of HVL compared with the other samples. Therefore, it is concluded that the 316L sample is more effective in absorbing gamma radiation.
Highlights
Technological development in various fields has increased the quality of life of patients by improving health services
The results show that μm decreased rapidly with the increase in photon energy
Ne f f values of the samples appeared to have more variation among energies compared to theoretical values, but the theoretical and experimental results were consistent in terms of materials 316 and 316L obtaining the maximum value of Ze f f at different energies compared to the other materials
Summary
Technological development in various fields has increased the quality of life of patients by improving health services. Stainless steel is widely used in various industrial fields due to its distinctive mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. These properties are attributable to the presence of a thin surface layer rich in chromium oxyhydroxide [3]. Used stainless-steel materials in different industries are 304 [18], 304L [19], 316 [20] and 316L [21], with applications in different medical fields, such as medical and laboratory instruments and devices, especially for the manufacture of blood contact tools. Exploring the radiation properties of surgical stainless-steel materials at low photon energy is important.
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