Monte Carlo simulation of the mass attenuation coefficient and effective atomic number of the Eremurus-Rhizophora ssp. particleboard phantom at the mammography energy range

The earlier investigations proved the potential of the Rhizophora spp. as a phantom material. In this study, the mass attenuation coefficients and empirical and theoretical effective atomic numbers of Eremurus-Rhizophora spp. particleboards in three particle sizes and two adhesive treatment levels were evaluated in 16.63-60 keV photon energy range, using theoretical (XCOM: NIST Photon Cross Sections Database Code), simulation (MCNPX: Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended Code), and experimental methods. The findings of this study were discussed in terms of the various calculating approaches, and also comparing them with raw wood, binderless particleboard, water, and different breast tissues. The mass attenuation coefficients of Eremurus-Rhizophora spp. samples were seriously agreed with young age breast tissue in three determination methods. Although the empirical effective atomic number (Z(eff)) is independent of photon energy and the theoretical Z(eff) is affected by it, the empirical and theoretical effective atomic numbers of the Eremurus-Rhizophora spp. particleboards are in good agreement in the mammography photon energy range. Moreover, the results of this study showed that the radiation features of Rhizophora spp. particleboard can be significantly improved by adding the Eremurus spp. root. The results prove the validity of the MCNP method as an alternative to the XCOM and experimental methods for evaluating the attenuation features and effective atomic numbers of the bio-composites.