Study of the X-Ray attenuation as a function of the density and thickness of the absorbent: Cortical bone and BaSO4

Abstract

In the present paper a non-metallic material to attenuate X-rays is proposed, mainly for medical imaging applications in order to reduce the radiation dose received by patients due to dispersion. For this purpose, the filing of cortical bone and barium sulfate (BaSO4) were characterized using X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Attenuation capacity of the X-rays was determined using an X-rays equipment (10–30, kV) and a Geiger-Müller detector, bearing in mind that the intensity of the transmitted radiation depends on the thickness and density of the material, having a 1, mm lead sheet as reference. In addition, a radiation attenuation comparison dose emmited by a dental X-ray generator using TLD-100 thermoluminescent crystals and periapical radiographic plates is presented, identifying that BaSO4 is the material that attenuates the better this type of radiation compared to cortical bone.