The gamma radiation shielding effectiveness of textured steel yarn based fabrics

Lead aprons that are lead-shielding products are generally used for personal protection of physicians and patients from X-ray (gamma) radiation during medical operations; lead has environmental disadvantages, with high toxicity, though. Therefore, the aim of this research was to produce an environmentally friendly and flexible textile-based radiation shielding material. In this work, 2/2 twill, 3/1 twill, Herringbone, Whipcord, which are twill derivatives, Barathea and Crepe woven fabrics, which are sateen derivatives, woven with textured steel yarns, which have soft feeling and flexibility, and gamma radiation shielding effectiveness of these fabrics were investigated and were not studied in the references. The effects of fabric structural characteristics such as weave, conductive weft yarn density, fabric thickness and porosity on these properties were analysed graphically and statistically. It is observed that with the biggest thicknesses and lowest porosities, Barathea and Crepe woven fabrics performed better gamma radiation shielding performance than other woven fabrics. The samples F1 and E1, woven with Barathea and Crepe weave, have the highest gamma radiation shielding effectiveness, thanks to the highest fabric thicknesses and lowest porosities. In addition, the increases of textured steel yarn density improved the gamma radiation shielding effectiveness of woven fabrics.