Cast glass-coated microwire for X-ray protection

Abstract

A glass-coated microwire includes a metal wire coated with a glass. The metal wire can contain, in weight %, 20-25% Bi, 6-12% Sn, 4-8% In, 3-5% Cu, 0.6-1.5% Si, 0.05-1.2% Ce, and a balance of Pb. The glass coating can contain, in mol. %, 12-15% SrO, 10-12% B2O3, 1-3% Al2O3, 5-15% SiO2, 1-3% ZnO, 0.5-1.5% Li2O, 2-5% SnO, 2-8% K2O, and a balance of PbO. The glass-coated microwire provides improved shielding against X-ray radiation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to radiation shielding materials. In particular, this invention relates to glass-coated microwire for X-ray protection. [0003] 2. Discussion of the Background [0004] X-ray radiation is a powerful radiological tool used for diagnostic procedures and extensive medical therapy. However, living tissue is susceptible to damage from prolonged or high intensity exposure to X-ray radiation. In the field of medical radiology, radiation shields are used for protection from electromagnetic flux and, in particular, X-ray radiation. [0005] X-ray radiation has a wavelength in the range of from 10−5 to about 10−12 cm. X-ray radiation with a wavelength λ<2 Å is often referred to as hard radiation, while X-ray radiation with a wavelength λ>2 Å is referred to as soft radiation. Radiation shields are made from materials that interact actively with X-rays. [0006] When X-rays interact with a material the X-r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] The present invention provides a glass-coated metal microwire and a casting process that can produce the microwire. At the phase boundary between the metal and glass in the microwire, there is an intensive interaction with X-rays and a high effective absorption of X-rays. As a result, the microwire provides superior protection against X-ray radiation. The casting process can provide a long continuous microwire that has a length of 500 m or more and that has a stable diameter along its length (i.e., a variation in diameter of not more than + / −15%).

Problems solved by technology

However, living tissue is susceptible to damage from prolonged or high intensity exposure to X-ray radiation.

A disadvantage generally associated with these alloys is the absence of elements having a high affinity with oxygen that can act as deoxidizers.

Furthermore, the '436 alloy has a glass wetting ability that is not sufficient for providing a microwire manufacturing process.

This disadvantage limits and sometimes even prevents manufacture of a microwire having a small variation in diameter along the length of the microwire.

Moreover, this alloy is not suitable for preparing long continuous microwire lines during a microwire casting process.

Thus, the alloy is not well suited for preparing from microwire textiles and composites for X-ray protection.

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