A research group led by Professor Tizazu Mekonnen has designed a lightweight, flexible polymer-based material that blocks X-ray radiation, offering a potential alternative to heavy lead aprons currently used.
X-rays are a necessary tool in medical diagnostics, industrial inspection, security screening, military applications and more. Exposure to radiation is a concern, highlighting the need for lightweight, lead-free shielding materials that protect against harmful radiation.
In a previous study investigations focused on using safer alternative elements to lead, which comes with its own health risks. Researchers experimented with using bismuth, tungsten, gadolinium, barium, and other heavy metals, as well as their compounds that were incorporated into a polymer matrix.
In the current work, the research group used tungsten because it has high density at the atomic level, which is effective in blocking x-ray radiation. The focus is on the polymer’s design architecture. The group discovered that when they added more tungsten nanoparticles, the material blocked X-ray radiation better but became stiff.
To achieve both strength and flexibility, researchers realized they needed to arrange the particles in layers called gradients.
PhD student Aklilu G. Messele holding a sample of the material
A mechanistic study was conducted at Grand River Hospital in Waterloo with Dr. Ernest Osei, a biomedical physicist and co-author of the research paper. The study involved experimental work and modelling.
The research group, which included PhD student Aklilu G. Messele who played a central role, also examined whether the shape of the nanoparticles impacted their effectiveness. The study concluded that rod shaped nanoparticles were most effective for shielding.
“This work is novel because it uses a synergistic design approach that enables X-ray shielding while reducing scattered radiation,” says Mekonnen.
The next step in this research is to extend the application to other types of radiation. As Canada expands its nuclear energy capacity, which involves gamma ray emissions, the research group will explore potential applications of this work.
They will also investigate whether this research could be expanded and applied to block electromagnetic waves that come from devices like our cell phones.
The study Tailoring X-ray attenuation in tungsten-based nanocomposites via particle morphology, multilayering, and concentration gradients was recently published in the journal Materials Today Physics.