Bismuth oxide nanoparticles/waterborne polyurethane-coated fabrics for ionizing radiation protection

Ionizing radiation is the energy in the form of waves or particles that has the power to eject electrons from atoms and its main sources are radiological and nuclear medical examinations, cancer treatments, X-rays and gamma rays used in industry, and nuclear accidents. Since ionizing radiation has negative effects on human health, it is important to be protected against it by using shielding materials. In this study, a coating material comprising nano bismuth oxide and waterborne polyurethane (40% w/w WPU and 60% w/w Bi₂O₃) was developed and applied on to a commercially available, lightweight woven fabrics for fabricating wearable as well as flexible shielding materials. The X-ray shielding performance of the samples was measured as described in standard TS EN 61331-1:2014 at tube voltages of 40 kV, 60 kV, 80 kV, and 100 kV. In addition to the characterization analyses (i.e. SEM–EDS and FTIR), the coated fabrics were also subjected to some textile based performance tests, namely, water contact angle, abrasion, and stiffness in accordance with the relevant standards. The results of nano bismuth oxide and waterborne polyurethane-coated fabrics demonstrated promising results not only for X-ray shielding performance but also for the tested textile properties.