X-ray protective materials from barium sulfate/amorphous cellulose/natural rubber composites

Abstract

In this study, barium sulfate/amorphous cellulose (Ba/AC) was incorporated into natural rubber to produce X-ray shielding materials. Ba/AC was prepared by in-situ regeneration of amorphous cellulose from eucalyptus pulp and office waste paper with barium chloride. The shielding sheets were prepared by mixing vulcanized natural rubber with Ba/AC using both office waste paper (NR-W) and purified eucalyptus pulp (NR-E) and were compared to barium sulfate powder (NR-P) used as a conventional material. NR-W and NR-E exhibited a predominant attenuation property compared to that of NR-P. The amorphous cellulose surrounded by barium sulfate is essential in distributing and reducing the aggregation of barium sulfate particles. This behavior results in most incident X-ray beams being effectively absorbed. Subsequently, prototypes were fabricated using NR-W and NR-E with a thickness of 0.25-mm Pb in accordance with the quality standards of medical diagnostic X-ray machines in Thailand. The head, thyroid, and breast shields were produced to protect from direct X-ray beams. Additionally, a lab coat was prepared to block scattered beams. Finally, the fabricated X-ray shielding prototypes are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and nontoxic.