Mass attenuation coefficients of fabricated Rhizophora spp. particleboard for the 15.77 – 25.27 keV range

Abstract

The Rhizophora spp. wood what is hard and heavy is considered strong in strength and is suitable for structural purposes. Generally, Rhizophora spp. was used in radiation dosimetry research and it is being used in this project too. There are some disadvantages in using the raw (natural) material of Rhizophora spp. in radiation dosimetry research and there is a need to modify this natural wood to be easily used as a phantom in radiation dosimetry. The mass attenuation coefficients (/) of fabricated Rhizophora spp. particleboard were determined for photons in the energy range of 15.77–25.27 keV. This was carried out by studying the attenuation of X-ray fluorescent photons from zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, indium and tin targets. The results were compared with theoretical values for average breast tissues in youngage, middle-age and old-age groups calculated using photon cross section database (XCOM), the well-known code for calculating attenuation coefficients and interaction cross-sections. The measured mass attenuation coefficients were found to be very close to the calculated XCOM values in breasts of old-age group.