Development of ultra-thin radiation-shielding paper through nanofiber modeling of morpho butterfly wing structure

Abstract

In medical institutions, radiation shielding is an effective strategy to protect medical personnel and patients from exposure. Reducing the weight of the shield worn by medical personnel in the radiation generating area plays a key role in improving their productivity and mobility. In this study, a new lightweight radiation shield was developed by electrospinning a polymer-tungsten composite material to produce nanofibers with a multi-layered thin-film structure similar to that of a morpho butterfly wing. The fabricated shield was in the form of 0.1 mm thick flexible shielding paper. The multi-layer structure of the thin shielding paper was obtained through nanofiber pattern formation via electrospinning a dispersion of tungsten particles. At 0.1 mm thickness, the paper’s shielding rate was 64.88% at 60 keV. Furthermore, at 0.3 mm thick and arranged in a laminated structure, the shielding rate was 90.10% and the lead equivalent was 0.296 mmPb. When used as an apron material, the weight can be reduced by 45% compared to existing lead products. In addition, the material is highly processable and can be used to manufacture various flexible products, such as hats, gloves, underwear, and scarves used in medical institutions.

Functional lightweight protective clothing shielding design for constant radiation shielding of flight attendants and Monte Carlo simulation verification

“…Utilizing nanofibers in the manufacture of shields is primarily aimed at achieving lightweight properties. This approach originated with the development of products designed to accommodate user activity, such as those used in medical radiation protection (Kim et al, 2022). To enhance the shielding effect, a layered pattern is applied to evenly distribute the particles of the shielding material, a single sheet of the same thickness is produced, and the shielding performance is compared.…”