Low-energy X-ray attenuation properties of BaCO3/Bi2O3-filled wood-based composites.

The X-ray attenuation characteristics of BaCO3/Bi2O3-filled wood-based composites were experimentally investigated using a narrow-beam transmission setup at photon energies of 60, 81, and 342 keV. The shielding efficiency was assessed based on linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half-value layer, mean free path, transmission factor, and radiation protection efficiency. The results of this study show that adding Bi2O3 content markedly improves attenuation efficiency, especially at low photon energy, owing to the rise in effective atomic number and material density. An enhancement is observed around the K-edge of bismuth (∼90 keV), leading to increased mass attenuation coefficients and decreased half-value layer and mean free path values. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical data obtained from the XCOM database. These findings indicate that BaCO3/Bi2O3-infused wood-based composites are promising, lightweight, and eco-friendly materials for radiation shielding in the diagnostic X-ray energy spectrum.