Air and Water Vapor Permeable UHMWPE Composite Membranes for X-Ray Shielding

Abstract

Current flexible X-ray shielding garments are lacking in air and water vapor permeability. Herein, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/polyester mesh (PETM)/CeO2 composite membranes with low-intensity X-ray shielding properties as well as high air and water vapor permeability were prepared via the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method. CeO2 powders were pulverized below 1 μm by wet ball milling with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and then, the powders were coated by LDPE. After that, CeO2 powders were homogenously dispersed in UHMWPE solution and compressed with PETM to form UHMWPE/PETM/CeO2 composite membranes for shielding X-rays. The macroporous morphology was caused by annealing the composite membranes during the TIPS process, thereby improving the air and water vapor permeability. Meanwhile, the composite membranes have higher mechanical strength compared with commercial DuPont Tyvek and polyester fabrics. The composite membranes also have a good shielding property for X-ray photon energy range from 40.4 to 50 keV.

Cuprous oxide nanoparticles incorporated into a polymeric matrix embedded in fabrics to prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2

“…The water vapor permeability rates (WVTR, breathability) of the coated and uncoated fabrics (controls) were evaluated by following standard ASTM E-96 (cup method) with modification ( Quan et al, 2020 ). Media glass bottles (50 mL, diameter 3.8 cm) were filled with 30 mL of deionized water, sealed with the coated and uncoated fabrics and placed in a hot plate to maintain a constant water temperature of 90 °C under a typical laboratory environment.…”

Shielding of Cosmic Radiation by Fibrous Materials

“…Bi/Ce-natural leather composites were found to have nearly 100% X-ray shielding for energies below 40 keV and up to around 70% shielding for energies of 120 keV, as evaluated by an X-ray mono-energy generator and measured after the shielding material by an ionization chamber [102]. Quan et al again investigated a lower energy range up to 50 keV, where they found UHMWPE/polyester/CeO 2 composites well suited for shielding against X-ray, measured in transmission, combined with high mechanical strength, and air and water vapor permeability [103]. Shielding of higherenergy electromagnetic radiation-that is, gamma radiation-by fibrous materials is only scarcely reported in recent scientific literature [95,104]; more often, the influence of gamma rays on the oxidation of UHMWPE and other fibrous materials was studied [59].…”

Electrospun Tungsten‐Polyurethane Composite Nanofiber Mats for Medical Radiation‐Shielding Applications

“…Radiation‐shielding suits consist of an apron, neck protector, and hood, which are mostly designed as film‐type sheets containing lead‐based heavy metals [10–12] . These film‐type shielding sheets have excellent shielding efficiency but are somewhat inconvenient to wear for a long time during extended activities such as surgery due to its high weight, low flexibility, and limited air permeability [13–16] . The development of non‐woven fabric‐type shielding sheet manufactured from layers of fibers could overcome the disadvantages of the film‐type shielding sheets, but readily decrease the shielding rate as radiation could go through the pinholes formed by macro size fabric pores [17,18] .…”