Mass attenuation coefficients of binderless and polylactic acid added oil palm trunk particleboard in the diagnostic energy range

Abstract

Two types of oil palm trunk particleboards namely binderless and polylactic acid (PLA) added board were manufactured with a target density of 1.0 g/cm3. The mass attenuation coefficients of the binderless and PLA added particleboards were determined by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) photons emanating from high purity metal plates. The energies of the XRF emitted from those metal plates were in the range of 16.59 keV-25.26 keV. The experimental values of the mass attenuation coefficients of the binderless particleboards and the XCOM calculated values for water are comparable. These results suggest that binderless particleboards have the potential to be a phantom material at diagnostic photon energies.