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ST: Fachverband Strahlen- und Medizinphysik

ST 6: Poster Session

ST 6.5: Poster

Donnerstag, 19. März 2026, 14:15–15:45, Redoutensaal

Design-Oriented Monte Carlo Evaluation of Tungsten Oxide-Loaded Flexible Polymer Shields for Diagnostic Photon Energies — •Türkan Alkan¹ and Hakan Epik² — ¹Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir University of Economics, Balçova, Izmir 35330, Turkey — ²Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Dokuz Eylul University, Buca, Izmir 35160, Turkey

Flexible and lead-free radiation shielding materials have attracted significant attention as safer alternatives to conventional protective systems. This study aims to systematically evaluate the photon attenuation behavior of tungsten trioxide (WO₃)-reinforced PVA/PEG polymer composites within the diagnostic X-ray energy interval (20-150 keV) using a Monte Carlo-based modeling approach.

Composite structures containing 0-40% WO₃ by volume were computationally modeled using the GAMOS (GEANT4-based) simulation platform. Energy-dependent mass attenuation coefficients were obtained from transmitted photon fluence under narrow-beam conditions. Linear attenuation coefficients, half-value layer (HVL), tenth-value layer (TVL), and mean free path (MFP) were subsequently derived to quantify shielding efficiency across all compositions.

Increasing WO₃ loading produced a pronounced enhancement in attenuation performance, particularly at lower photon energies dominated by photoelectric interactions. The composite containing 40% WO₃ demonstrated the strongest shielding capability, exhibiting substantial reductions in HVL and MFP compared with the unfilled matrix. These findings indicate that tungsten oxide incorporation significantly improves photon interaction probability while enabling thinner shielding structures.

The simulation outcomes confirm that WO₃-reinforced PVA/PEG composites represent promising candidates for flexible, lead-free shielding applications in diagnostic radiology. The presented Monte Carlo framework provides a practical tool for guiding material selection and optimizing filler concentration prior to experimental fabrication.

Keywords: Flexible radiation shielding; WO3 composites; Monte Carlo simulation; diagnostic X-rays; attenuation parameters