Lightweight and Flexible Bi@Bi-La Natural Leather Composites with Superb X-ray Radiation Shielding Performance and Low Secondary Radiation

Abstract

A high-shielding, low secondary radiation, lightweight, flexible, and wearable X-ray protection material was prepared by coimpregnating La₂O₃ and Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles in natural leather (NL) with an additional Bi₂O₃ coating at the bottom surface of the leather. The prepared Bi_28.2@Bi_3.48La_3.48-NL (28.2 and 3.48 mmol·cm^-3 are the loading contents of elements) showed excellent X-ray shielding ability (65-100%) in a wide energy range of 20-120 keV with reduced scattered secondary radiation (30%). The bottom surface coating played a critical role in enhancing the X-ray attenuation and reducing the scattered secondary radiation by reflecting and deflecting incident X-ray photons. Excellent mechanical property with superb bending resistance of the NL matrix was properly maintained, and its tensile strength and tearing load were 15.39 MPa and 25.81 N·mm^-1, respectively. This lightweight and wearable high-performance protection material can facilitate safety and comfortability during intensive activities of practitioners in the health care industry.