Medical High Density X-ray Protection Methods

There are some many methods to protect from the medical high density X-ray:

Interlocking tungsten alloy shielding bricks

Borated tungsten polyethylene

High-density concrete

Linear accelerator swing doors

Linear accelerator sliding doors

Radiation therapy shielding upgrades

Tungsten alloy PET/CT shielding

If you need more information, you could contact Chinatungsten. 

What is Beta Radiation？

Beta radiation is a light, short-range particle and is actually an ejected electron. Some characteristics of beta radiation are:

Beta radiation may travel several feet in air and is moderately penetrating.

Beta radiation can penetrate human skin to the "germinal layer," where new skin cells are produced. If high levels of beta-emitting contaminants are allowed to remain on the skin for a prolonged period of time, they may cause skin injury.

Beta-emitting contaminants may be harmful if deposited internally.

Most beta emitters can be detected with a survey instrument and a thin-window GM probe (e.g., "pancake" type). Some beta emitters, however, produce very low-energy, poorly penetrating radiation that may be difficult or impossible to detect. Examples of these difficult-to-detect beta emitters are hydrogen-3 (tritium), carbon-14, and sulfur-35.

Clothing provides some protection against beta radiation.

Examples of some pure beta emitters: strontium-90, carbon-14, tritium, and sulfur-35.

Tungsten alloy material should be the most suitable material for alpha radiation protection, for more details, you could visit here.

What is Alpha Radiation?

Alpha radiation is a heavy, very short-range particle and is actually an ejected helium nucleus. Some characteristics of alpha radiation are:

Most alpha radiation is not able to penetrate human skin.

Alpha-emitting materials can be harmful to humans if the materials are inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through open wounds.

A variety of instruments has been designed to measure alpha radiation. Special training in the use of these instruments is essential for making accurate measurements.

A thin-window Geiger-Mueller (GM) probe can detect the presence of alpha radiation.

Instruments cannot detect alpha radiation through even a thin layer of water, dust, paper, or other material, because alpha radiation is not penetrating.

Alpha radiation travels only a short distance (a few inches) in air, but is not an external hazard.

Alpha radiation is not able to penetrate clothing.

Examples of some alpha emitters: radium, radon, uranium, thorium.

Tungsten alloy material should be the most suitable material for alpha radiation protection, for more details, you could visit here.

Tungsten Alloy for Efficient Radiation Protection

Lead is a toxic material that is harmful to the environment and humans. The onerous recycling process makes lead expensive despite the low initial procurement costs. Many enterprises are therefore looking for a suitable alternative for providing efficient radiation protection.

Whether in the world of medical or industrial X-ray technology, radiotherapy or nuclear power stations: Wherever high-energy radiation is used, it is vital to protect people against it. The denser the material, the better radiation absorption will be. That is why tungsten alloy absorbs X-rays and gamma radiation particularly well. Lead is still the most frequently used shielding material as it is very soft material, and mostly used only in combination with support structures made of steel.

Tungsten Alloy Invention to Multi-Leaf Collimator

As the properties such as high density and environmental-friendly, tungsten alloy material is usually used to invent a new type of multi-leaf collimator for radiation protection.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi leaf collimator (MLC). These embodiments have a plurality of leaves having a length of travel. Each leaf has a proximal end, a distal end, a radio opaque distal blocking portion having a length L and width W, a proximal drive portion having a length L′ and width W′, one or more conductive coils fixed to the proximal drive portion and operatively connected to an electrical current source, where electrical current passing through the conductive coils generates a first magnetic field. The MLC of these embodiments also have a leaf guide with a plurality of channels arranged approximately parallel and adjacent to each other where at least a portion of each of the plurality of leaves is slidingly arranged into each of said channels, and a plurality of stationary magnets positioned adjacent to the proximal drive portion, where each stationary magnet has a second magnetic field configured to operate in conjunction with the first magnetic field from the coils to exert a force on the proximal drive portion. For the high density, we could reduce the size and the volume for the collimator with tungsten alloy material but having the same radiation absorption before. 

Radiation Has Effect on Mars Mission

NASA now has to expose astronauts to cancerous, or even lethal, levels of space radiation. It's an ethical quandary for those involved in NASA's renewed push toward deep-space exploration. And it's being explored by some of the most distinguished scholars, scientists, engineers, health professionals and ethicists in the nation.

On a 500-day round trip to Mars, astronauts would fly outside the Earth's magnetic field, which largely protects International Space Station crews and the planet from deadly forms of space radiation. Those flying beyond Earth orbit would face consequential radiation risks, including exposure to: Solar energetic particles generated by solar flares or coronal mass ejections from the sun. Galactic cosmic rays from the exploding stars, quasars and gamma ray burst outside our solar system. Shielding and sheltering measures can protect crews from solar energetic particles, but new breakthroughs in lightweight materials are needed to make deep-space missions possible.

Actually, there is also a suitable material of tungsten alloy for radiation protection, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/en/alloy07.htm.

How to Protect Yourself from Nuclear Fallout?

Nuclear bomb No. one wants to think about a nuclear crisis – and hopefully it will never happen, but we all must accept the fact nuclear tensions are rising globally with North Korea (plus Iran, Al-Qaeda and others are seeking nukes) so we should prepare ourselves and our loved ones in the event the unthinkable strikes our soil.
Unless you are actually at ground zero or within several miles radius of the blast zone (depending on the size of the nuke, of course), there is a very high probability you’ll survive as long as you. Therefore, to know clearly how to protect yourself from nuclear fallout is very important:
Limit your exposure to radiation,
Take shelter with proper shielding, and
Wait for the most dangerous radioactive materials to decay.
The last point is very important for our life, actually, there is one kind of basic material of nuclear radiation absorption, that is tungsten alloy material, for more details, you could visit our website: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/en/alloy07.htm

What is X-ray Spectrum

Most of the X-ray output of rotating anode sources has a continuous energy range that extends up to a value, Emax that, measured in electron volts, is equal to the acceleration voltage applied to the tube.. This Bremsstrahlung ("braking radiation") arises from the accelerations suffered by the electrons during collision with the atoms of the anode, then that is the X-ray spectrum, superimposed on the Bremsstrahlung background there are intense narrow line emissions that are characteristic of the material of the anode. These characteristic lines are important for crystallography but since they amount to only a few percent of the total X-ray output they are of little radiological importance. For the radiation during this whole process, tungsten alloy shielding will be the ideal material for radiation protection, for more details, you could visit our website: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm.

The Energy of X-ray

All radiant energy, including X-ray, has its origin in a disturbance of electrical charge. Consider a point charge — an electron — surrounded by a symmetrical electromagnetic field and moving through space at constant velocity. What happens to the motion of the field if the central charge is speeded up or slowed down? Experiments indicate that the field reacts much like a mass of jelly. When the central charge is accelerated, the disturbance is communicated radially through the field as a wave motion — the outside parts of the field requiring an appreciable time interval to catch up with the center. Work expended in accelerating the central charge is carried away by the wave as radiant energy, at a velocity which depends on the nature of the “jelly.”

Tungsten alloy is a suitable material for radiation protection, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/en/alloy07.htm.

What is X-ray Radiation?

X-ray radiation is characterized chiefly by extremely short wavelength — about one ten-thousandth the length of visible light waves. Like light waves, X-ray can be reflected, refracted, diffracted and polarized. The techniques by which they are manipulated differ from those employed with light, just as light techniques differ from those of radio. The longest X-rays are indistinguishable from ultraviolet rays; the shortest are identical with gamma rays. The distinction between the two is largely a matter of definition. When the emission accompanies the disintegration of a radioactive substance such as radium, it is called gamma radiation. Identical waves generated by electronic means are called X-rays.

All radiant energy, including X-rays, has its origin in a disturbance of electrical charge. Consider a point charge — an electron — surrounded by a symmetrical electromagnetic field and moving through space at constant velocity. What happens to the motion of the field if the central charge is speeding up or slowed down? Experiments indicate that the field reacts much like a mass of jelly. When the central charge is accelerated, the disturbance is communicated radically through the field as a wave motion — the outside parts of the field requiring an appreciable time interval to catch up with the center. Tungsten alloy material is widely used for such radiation protection as its high density, for more details, you could visit:  http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm.

Does the "K-shell" Another Way of Making X-rays?

Atoms have their electrons arranged in closed "shells" of different energies. Well, the K-shell is the lowest energy state of an atom. It can give it enough energy to knock it out of its energy state. Then a tungsten electron of higher energy (from an outer shell) can fall into the K-shell.

The energy lost by the falling electron shows up in an emitted x-ray photon. Meanwhile, higher energy electrons fall into the vacated energy state in the outer shell, and so on. K-shell emission produces higher-intensity x-rays than Bremsstrahlung, and the x-ray photon comes out at a single wavelength.

Tungsten alloy is a main material for X-ray radiation shielding, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm

Does X-rays Making Involve A Change in The State of Electrons?

Bremsstrahlung is easier to understand using the classical idea that radiation is emitted when the velocity of the electron shot at the tungsten changes. This electron slows down after swinging around the nucleus of a tungsten atom and loses energy by radiating x-rays. In the quantum picture, a lot of photons of different wavelengths are produced, but none of the photons has more energy than the electron had to begin with. After emitting the spectrum of x-ray radiation the original electron is slowed down or stopped.

Tungsten alloy is a favorable material for radiation shielding, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm

What Is Bremsstrahlung?

X-rays are just like any other kind of electromagnetic radiation. They can be produced in parcels of energy called photons, just like light. There are two different atomic processes that can produce x-ray photons. One is called Bremsstrahlung, which is a fancy German name meaning "braking radiation." The other is called K-shell emission. They can both occur in heavy atoms like tungsten.

Tungsten alloy is a kind of high density material for radiation protection, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm

Where Do X-rays Come From?

An x-ray machine, like that used in a doctor's or a dentist's office, is really very simple. Inside the machine is an x-ray tube. An electron gun inside the tube shoots high energy electrons at a target made of heavy atoms, such as tungsten. X-rays come out because of atomic processes induced by the energetic electrons shot at the target.

Tungsten alloy material is a suitable choice for radiation protection, for more details, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/X-ray-target-collimator.htm

Two Types of Radiation Exposure

There is a concern for two types of exposure: acute and chronic.

An acute exposure is a single accidental exposure to a high dose of radiation during a short period of time. An acute exposure has the potential for producing both nonstochastic and stochastic effects. Chronic exposure, which is also sometimes called "continuous exposure," is long-term, low level overexposure. Chronic exposure may result in stochastic health effects and is likely to be the result of improper or inadequate protective measures.

Tungsten alloy material is usually used for radiation protection, if you need more information, you could visit: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/tungsten-alloy-radiation-shielding.html

Gamma Rays Absorbed by High Density Material

Gamma rays are better absorbed by materials with high atomic numbers and high density, such as tungsten alloy material. Although neither effect is important compared to the total mass per area in the path of the gamma ray. For this reason,lead shield is only modestly better (20–30% better) as a gamma shield, than an equal mass of another shielding material such as aluminium, concrete, water or soil, lead's major advantage is not in lower weight, but rather its compactness due to its higher density. Therefore, tungsten alloy material is better in its high density,good radiation absorption, etc.

Read more: http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/en/alloy07.htm

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.

Different Radiation and Shielding

Lead
Lead, atomic number 82, is the most popular metal used for radiation protection due to its inexpensive cost. It works well in shielding against radiation because electrons stop x-rays, and lead has 82 protons and electrons, which is higher than many other metals. When using metals to stop x-rays from passing through, it is important to note that the thickness of the metal is just as important as the number of electrons in the metal. A metal with a lower number of electrons per atom, such as aluminum, could also be used, but it would have to be a lot thicker in order to provide the same level of protection.

Tungsten
Tungsten alloys, which form a solid microstructure of tungsten, protect against x-rays because of their high density. This means that tungsten alloys have a greater x-ray stopping ability than lead by up to 60 percent. Due to this greater x-ray stopping power, the metal can be manufactured into aprons and shields that are considerably less thick and bulky than those made out of lead. This is a newer technology than lead and is more expensive to manufacture, so it is currently not used as often. As technology continues to develop and tungsten alloy manufacturing becomes more common, the prices will likely drop and tungsten alloys will be utilized more often.

Tungsten Alloy is Suitable for Gamma Radiation Shielding

Gamma radiation and X-rays are absorbed most effectively by high-density materials. Chinatungsten high-density materials are a family of tungsten-based materials with densities 50% greater than that of lead.The high-density, good mechanical strength and excellent machinability of Chinatungsten materials make them ideal for shielding applications. A variety of sizes and shapes are available.

Property:

Tungsten content(wt%): 90-97
High density   16.0~18.5g/cm3
High strength   580~950Mpa                                    
Good corrosion-resistant
Good machining property
High thermal conductivity
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
High mass absorption coefficient

Tungsten Alloy is Superior to Traditional Shielding Material

Compared to traditional radiation shielding materials, tungsten alloys provide excellent value. A high-density alloy can provide the same energy absorption as lead using 1/3 less material! Unlike lead, you’ll also reduce administration costs by eliminating the need to obtain special licensing, it’s not required.

Clients all across the globe are taking advantage of tungsten alloy’s reliable radiation shielding properties. If you need to protect yourself, your patients or your equipment from the harmful effects of excess radiation.

Chinatungsten could offer finished machined parts as rod, bar, sheet, strip, blank and rectangular blocks.