Optimization of Radio-Opaque Personal Protective Fabric by Monte CarloSimulation

Abstract

The objective of this project was to design and optimize a radio-opaque personal protective fabric to minimize gamma-ray transmittances. For this work, a radioactive particulate transport model was designed to quantify convective leakage of radioactive particulate material(¹³⁷Cs)into personal protective equipment.A Monte Carlo radiation transport model was then used to calculate the transmittance of a commercially available radio-opaque combat fabric for a range of gamma-ray energies. This commercial radio-opaque combat fabric incorporated a thin attenuation layer of tungsten (W). The transmittance values for tungsten and a variety of other metals were calculated to determine which material minimized gamma-ray transmittance. These materials were then evaluated for their effect on wearer mobility, cost and toxicity. It was determined that an osmium alloy would be the optimal radio-opaque fabric attenuation layer additive.