| Abstract: | The characteristics of the X‐ray attenuation in electrospun nano(n)‐ and micro(m)‐Bi2O3/polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibre mats with different Bi2O3 loadings were compared as a function of energy using mammography (i.e. tube voltages of 22–49 kV) and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) (7–20 keV). Results indicate that X‐ray attenuation by electrospun n‐Bi2O3/PLA nanofibre mats is distinctly higher than that of m‐Bi2O3/PLA nanofibre mats at all energies investigated. In addition, with increasing filler loading (n‐Bi2O3 or m‐Bi2O3), the porosity of the nanofibre mats decreased, thus increasing the X‐ray attenuation, except for the sample containing 38 wt% Bi2O3 (the highest loading in the present study). The latter showed higher porosity, with some beads formed, thus resulting in a sudden decrease in the X‐ray attenuation. |
