• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2022

Research on the presence or absence of radiation shielding for FDM-type filaments has recently begun to be studied, but filaments with shielding capabilities are not sold in Korea, and not studies yet. Therefore, in this research, we will use HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) as a base material, select bismuth as a reinforcing material to manufacture a composite filament, evaluate the shielding ability, and provide basic data for the development of a radiation shielding composite material using 3D printing.A filament is produced by mixing Bismuth with an effective atomic number 83 with HDPE of PE series and adjusting the content of Bismuth to 20% wt, 30% wt, 40% wt. Compounded filaments were evaluated for their physical properties and shielding capabilities by ASTM evaluation methods. As the bismuth content increases, the density, weight, and tensile strength increase, and the shielding capacity is confirmed to be excellent. As a result of the radiation shielding capacity evaluation, it was confirmed that HDPE (80%) + Bi (20%) showed a shielding rate of 82% at 60 kV and a shielding rate of up to 94% or more at 40% bismuth content. In this study, we confirmed that it was possible to produce a radiation shield that is lighter than the metal particle-containing filaments. Furthermore, that have been shield radiation by using HDPE + Bi filaments, and radiation in the medical and radiation industries. The possibility of using it as a shielding complex was confirmed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.641-649
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• 2023

This study compares and analyzes the performance of a shield manufactured using 3D printing technology to find out its applicability as a shield in high-energy electron beam therapy. Actual measurement and monte carlo simulations were performed to evaluate the shielding performance of 3D printing materials for high-energy electron beams. First, in order to secure reliability for the simulation, a source term evaluation was conducted by referring to the IAEA's TRS-398 recommendation. Second, to analyze the shielding performance of PLA+W (93%), a specimen was manufactured using a 3D printer, and the shielding rate by thickness according to electron beam energy was evaluated. Third, the shielding thickness required for electron beam treatment was calculated through a comparative analysis of shielding performance between PLA+W (93%) and existing shielding bodies. First, as a result of the evaluation of the source term through actual measurement and simulation, the TRS-398 recommendation was satisfied with an error of less than 1%, thereby securing the reliability of the simulation. Second, as a result of the shielding performance analysis for PLA+W (93%), 6 MeV electron beams showed a shielding rate of more than 95% at 3.12 mm, and 15 MeV electron beams showed a shielding rate of more than 90% at 10 mm thickness. Third, through simulations, comparative analysis between PLA+W (93%) materials and existing shields showed high shielding rates within the same thickness in the order of tungsten, lead, copper, PLA+W (93%), and aluminum. 6 MeV electron beams showed almost similar shielding rates at 5 mm or more and 15 MeV electron beams. Through this study in the future, it is judged that it can be used as basic data for the production and application of shielding bodies using PLA+W (93%) materials in high-energy electron beam treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.891-898
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• 2020

As the problem of shields made of lead has recently emerged, research on replacement shields is essential, and studies on the manufacture of diagnostic X-ray shields with 3D printers are also being actively conducted. Recently, with the development of metal mixed filaments, it has become possible to manufacture shielding materials easily, but studies on the nozzle size and output setting of 3D printers are insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze the results through a shielding rate experiment using a brass filament and a 3D printer, outputting the shield according to the nozzle size and layer height, and using a diagnostic radiation generator. The nozzle size was changed to 0.4, 0.8 mm, layer height 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mm, and output. The shielding rate test was fixed at 40 mAs, and the shielding rate was analyzed by experimenting with 60, 80, and 100 kVp, respectively. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed that the printing time could be reduced to 1/10 according to the nozzle size and the layer height, and the shielding rate could be increased by 1% or more.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.226-237
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• 2020

As the number of reported COVID-19 cases rises around the world, regions affected by the virus are taking serious measures to contain its spread. Face shields are one of the highest-need personal protective equipment (PPE) during COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond traditional face masks, as known cases of the coronavirus soar, currently there is a significant shortage of face shields around the world. In response, the protective face shields were designed and fabricated with open-source 3D modelling software and 3D printing technology, respectively. Our face shield consisted of two parts only; a reusable 3D printed headband and a visor made of transparent plastic sheet, as barrier. The resulting 3D printed face shields are affordable, lightweight, one-size-fits-most and ready-to-wear with minimal assemblies, and go on easily over glass, goggle and face mask. To ensure being donated to the healthcare professionals without risk infected by any pathogens, the 3D printed face shields were successfully be disinfected with ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI dosage of 1000 mJ/cm²) and 70% alcohol. For routine disinfection a UVGI chamber was designed and optimized to provide uniform UV-C illumination with an appreciated fluence for complete decontamination. More than 1,000 face shields were produced already and donated to the special hospitals for COVID-19 patients, quarantines, government and medical agencies in Ethiopia as well as in East-African countries. With certainty, our intention goes beyond the hospitals and other first responders, but not limited for all those who have to stay in the service or be in contact with many other people in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.557-564
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• 2023

In this study, 3D printing technology was used to compensate for the shortcomings of the use of lead, which has proven to have excellent shielding performance, and to control unnecessary human exposure. 3D printers can implement three-dimensional shapes and can immediately apply individual ideas, which has great advantages in maintaining technology supplementation while reducing the cost and duration of prototyping. Among the various special 3D printers, the FDM method was adopted, and the filament used for output was manufactured using a research extruder by mixing two materials, PLA (Poly-Lactic-Acid) and tungsten. The purpose was to verify the validity through dose evaluation and to provide basic information on the production of chapezones of various materials. The mixed filament was implemented as a morphological shield. Filaments made of a research extruder by mixing PLA and tungsten were divided into 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, and 50 % according to the tungsten content ratio. Through the process of 3D Modeling, STL File storage, G-code generation, and output, 10 cm × 10 cm × 0.5 cm was manufactured, respectively, and dose and shielding ability were evaluated under the conditions of tube voltages of 60 kVp, 80 kVp, 100 kVp, 120 kVp, and tube currents of 20 mAs and 40 mAs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.965-973
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• 2021

Since radiation therapy is irradiated with high-energy X-rays in a variety of at least 20 Gy to 80 Gy, a high dose is administered to the local area where the tumor is located, and various side effects of some normal tissues are expected. Currently, in clinical practice, lead, a representative material, is used as an effort to shield normal tissues, but lead is classified as a heavy metal harmful to the human body, and a large amount of skin contact can cause poisoning. Therefore, this study intends to manufacture a measurement sheet that can compensate for the limitations of lead using the materials Tungsten, Brass, and Copper of the 3D printer of the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method and to investigate the penetration performance. Tungsten mixed filament transmission measurement sheet size was 70 × 70 mm and thickness 1, 2, 4 mm using a 3D printer, and a linear accelerator (TrueBeam STx, S/N: 1187) was measured by irradiating 100 MU at SSD 100 cm and 5 cm in water using a water phantom, an ion chamber (FC-65G), and an elcetrometer (PTW UNIDOSE), and the permeability was evaluated. As a result of increasing the measurement sheet of each material by 1 mm, in the case of Tungsten sheet at 3.8 to 3.9 cm in 6 MV, the thickness of the lead shielding body was thinner than 6.5 cm, and in case of Tungsten sheet at 4.5 to 4.6 cm in 15 MV. The sheet was thinner than the existing lead shielding body thickness of 7 cm, and equivalent performance was confirmed. Through this study, the transmittance measurement sheet produced using Tungsten alloy filaments confirmed the possibility of transmission shielding in the high energy region. It has been confirmed that the usability as a substitute is also excellent. It is thought that it can be provided as basic data for the production of shielding agents with 3D printing technology in the future.