Effects of particle size on X-ray transmission characteristics of PDMS/Ag nano- and microcomposites

Polymers reinforced with nano- or micro-material(s) are increasingly being considered for the development of lightweight, conformable shielding materials against diagnostic X-rays. However, the choice of the optimal particle-size and the concentration for the filler material is not yet well studied in terms of their role in effective attenuation of the desired range of X-ray energies. In this study, X-ray transmission properties of silver nano- and micro-particles were investigated at relatively very low concentrations of 0.5, 2.73 and 5.5 weight percentage (wt%) under a wide range of X-ray energies (20, 23, 26, 30, 40, 60 and 80 kV). With increase in concentration, silver nanoparticles showed enhanced X-ray attenuation properties with respect to silver microparticles over the whole range of X-ray energies, especially at the low energy X-rays (up to 9% more attenuation at 20 kV).