Comparison of Shielding Material Dispersion Characteristics and Shielding Efficiency for Manufacturing Medical X-ray Shielding Barriers

During medical diagnoses, X-ray shielding barriers are used to protect against direct and indirect X-rays. Currently, lead is used as the primary material for shielding barriers; however, the demand for eco-friendly shielding barriers has been increasing. Conventionally, shielding barriers are manufactured using a mechanically bonded combination of lead and aluminum; however, in this study, a plastic-based injection-molded product was developed using tungsten as an eco-friendly alternative to lead. A new process technology was required for mixing tungsten—which can be difficult to process—with a polymer. Consequently, the mixing conditions within the injection molding machine and the related compounding technology factors were analyzed. The process technology considered the pre-mixing method using powdery polymer, particle dispersion method, number of screw rotations, and amount of filler input. The product’s shielding performance was then analyzed. The tungsten content of the 2-mm thick barrier manufactured using the proposed method was 90 wt%, and the lead equivalent was 0.321 mmPb. To increase the effectiveness of injection molding in the manufacturing process, specific hourly compounding conditions were proposed. Consequently, the process technology method developed in this study can be considered suitable for manufacturing various shielding barriers.