Prog Med Phys.  2022 Dec;33(4):164-171. 10.14316/pmp.2022.33.4.164.

50–300 kVp X-ray Transmission Ratios for Lead, Steel and Concrete

• Kim TH
• Kim KB
• Kim GB
• Kim DW
• Kim SR
• Choi SH

• KMID: 2537886
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14316/pmp.2022.33.4.164

Abstract

The number of facilities using radiation generators increases and related regulations are strengthened, the establishment of a shielding management and evaluation technology has become important. The characteristics of the radiation generator used in previous report differ from those of currently available high-frequency radiation generators. This study aimed to manufacture lead, iron, and concrete shielding materials for the re-verification of half-value layers, tenth-value layers, and attenuation curve. For a comparison of attenuation ratio, iron, lead, and concrete shields were manufactured in this study. The initial dose was measured without shielding materials, and doses measured under different types and thicknesses of shielding material were compared with the initial dose to calculate the transmission rate on 50–300 kVp X-ray. All the three shielding materials showed a tendency to require greater shielding thickness for higher energy. The attenuation graph showed an exponential shape as the thickness decreased and a straight line as the thickness increased. The difference between the measurement results and the previous study, except in extrapolated parts, may be due to the differences in the radiation generation characteristics between the generators used in the two studies. The attenuated graph measured in this study better reflects the characteristics of current radiation generators, which would be more effective for shield designing.

Keyword

Half-value layers; Tenth-value layers; Attenuation rate; Radiation protection; X-ray attenuation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The lead shielder and steel shielder. A steel and lead plate was cut (a, c) and assembled with frame (b, d).

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  Fig. 2 Making process of the concrete shielder. To work with 3D printer, the concrete shielder was designed like (a). Then the mold (b) was made and was filled with concrete (c). The Concrete needs some days for hardening (d).

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  Fig. 3 Arrangement of performed experiments component (a), AAPM protocol TG-61 arrangement (b).

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  Fig. 4 Attenuation ratio curve compared with RaySafe 452 and A3 Ion chamber.

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  Fig. 5 Measured attenuation ratio curve of (a) lead, (b) steel, and (c) concrete.

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  Fig. 6 Attenuation ratio curve for lead compared with measurements and NCRP Report No. 49, 50 kVp/70 kVp (a), 250 kVp/300 kVp (b).

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  Fig. 7 Attenuation ratio curve for concrete compared with measurements and NCRP Report No. 49 50 kVp/70 kVp (a), 250 kVp/300 kVp (b).

Reference

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