Title: Characterisations and attenuation properties of corn starch-bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboards as water equivalent phantom material at 16.59-25.26 XRF photons and ^99mTc gamma energies

Authors: Puteri Nor Khatijah Abd Hamid; Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof; Rokiah Hashim; Abd Aziz Tajuddin

Addresses: School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia ' School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia ' Division of Bioresource, Paper and Coatings Technology, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

Abstract: Rhizophora spp. particleboards were fabricated at ≤ 74 μm particles size range with addition of corn starch. The physical properties and water equivalent properties of particleboards were evaluated including mass attenuation coefficients at 16.59 to 25.26 keV X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and 99 mTc gamma energies. The addition of corn starch increased the physical properties of the particleboards with the average IB strength, MOR, TS and WA satisfied the minimum of Type 13 of the JIS A 5908 (2003). The calculated effective atomic number of particleboard showed the value of 7.59 close to the value of water (7.42). The particleboard with higher percentage of corn starch showed nearer CT number to water and better density uniformity. The mass attenuation coefficients of the particleboards showed good agreement to water. The overall results indicated the potential of corn starch-bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboards as phantom material at low and diagnostic ranges of photon energies.

Keywords: Rhizophora spp.; particleboards; phantom material; mass attenuation coefficients.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2018.097519

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2018 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.254 - 270

Received: 28 Dec 2017
Accepted: 16 Sep 2018
Published online: 25 Jan 2019 *

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