Tungsten Alloy Shielding for Radiation Stopping

The extended health data and dosimetry including external irradiation and transuranium elements are available for staff of the “Shelter” object at the RCRM. The existing experience of French and other international registries as well as of the State registry of exposed after Chernobyl, the Clinical-epidemiological registry, and dosimetry databases gained in the Research Center for Radiation Medicine from the prospective follow-up studies could help for practical implementation of the nuclear workers registry. Several tasks are foreseen that could be successfully implemented with international cooperation: a survey of professions, types of jobs and radiation qualities; development of qualification criteria and accreditation procedures for personal dosimetry services; pilot study of medical registry of occupationally exposed workers. Establishment of a new multi-thousand cohort for both prospective and retrospective biomedical and epidemiological studies will allow more precise estimated of the low dose effects of ionizing radiation. 

The density of a material is related to its radiation stopping ability. Higher density means better stopping power and shielding. Due to a higher density, tungsten heavy alloy has a much higher stopping power than lead. Its greater linear attenuation of gamma radiations means that less is required for equal shielding. Alternatively equal amounts of tungsten shielding provide diminished exposure risks than equivalent lead shielding. For more details, please visit tungsten alloy shielding.

Tungsten Alloy Radiation Shielding for Radiation Protection Problem-1

Nuclear energy sector in Ukraine includes 50,000 workers of the 15 power and research units, uranium mines, radioactive waste storages, staff of the Chernobyl zone and the “Shelter” object. Creation of a centralized registry with dosimetry and health data is essential and such understanding exists at the governmental and local levels. However, de facto this work is initiated slowly due to lack of budgetary funding. An analysis was performed of the existing sources of health and dosimetry data information. Two surveys defined the general status of dosimetry monitoring and number of occupationally exposed workers. The local data sources will be used including individual data from the local medical-sanitary departments, dosimetry shops and regional registries for radiologists. Cancer statistics of sufficient quality of case identification and pathological data could be obtained by linkage from the National cancer registry. 

In this case, we need high density of radiation shielding to have a radiation protection, it is reported that tungsten alloy material is the suitable material as its high density almost similar to real gold, the denser density, and then the better radiation absorption. More information, you could visit Tungsten Alloy Radiation Shielding for Radiation Protection Problem.

Radiation Leakage and Tungsten Alloy

The Valencia applicators which are accessories of the microSelectron-HDR afterloader (Nucletron, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) are designed to treat skin lesions. These cup-shaped applicators are an alternative to superficial/orthovoltage x-ray treatment units.

They limit the irradiation to the required area using tungsten alloy shielding, and are equipped with a tungsten alloy flattering filter allowing the treatment of skin tumors, the oral cavity, vaginal cuff, etc. The tungsten alloy thickness to shield radiation is not the same in all parts of the applicators. This fact led us to question whether the leakage radiation differs depending on where it is measured, and whether this may be relevant in some clinical cases. The purpose of this work is to study from the radiation protection point of view the radiation leakage of the Valencia applicators, and provide a solution for current users and for the manufacturer.

Flexible Tungsten Shielding Materials

Radiation includes many types such as α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, χ-rays and neutron rays. Since the penetrating power of each type of radiation is known, radiation can be blocked by selecting appropriate thicknesses based on materials.

Recently, tungsten alloys are widely used as an environment friendly material. Since tungsten alloys of higher density have higher radiation absorption factors, shielding materials can be easily produced with small thicknesses.

Recently, flexible tungsten shielding materials added with polyethylene, paraffin, etc. that can be reduced in size and can block neutron rays, γ-rays and χ-rays simultaneously have been developed and are used together with other materials.

Of them, tungsten sheet type shielding materials have excellent radiation shielding performance and thus can be applied as shielding materials for various types of X-ray equipment and they can be attached to the inside or outside of storage containers when they are used.