Analysis and Monte Carlo modelling of radio-opaque personal protective fabrics

The composition of a second generation radio-opaque fabric and its performance relative to established characterised materials are described. The protection offered by this fabric has been examined using a wide range of discrete gamma photon energies. Data indicate improved attenuation in the range 50–300 keV relative to earlier lightweight personal protective materials and conventional personal protection fabrics. Statistically significant improvements were not observed for gamma photons possessing energies > 300 keV. Experimentally benchmarked models represent powerful tools for the investigation and optimisation of radio-opaque fabrics. In the present work, Monte Carlo simulations using the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code, Version 5 software produced single layer fabric attenuation results for first and second generation fabrics within the uncertainties associated with the experimental data. This model was then used to assess secondary X-ray production and consider the attenuation performance of alternative fabric compositions.