title: Quantitative electron density characterization of soft tissue substitute plastic materials using grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging.
abstract: Many scientific research areas rely on accurate electron density characterization of various materials. For instance in X-ray optics and radiation therapy, there is a need for a fast and reliable technique to quantitatively characterize samples for electron density. We present how a precise measurement of electron density can be performed using an X-ray phase-contrast grating interferometer in a radiographic mode of a homogenous sample in a controlled geometry. A batch of various plastic materials was characterized quantitatively and compared with calculated results. We found that the measured electron densities closely match theoretical values. The technique yields comparable results between a monochromatic and a polychromatic X-ray source. Measured electron densities can be further used to design dedicated X-ray phase contrast phantoms and the additional information on small angle scattering should be taken into account in order to exclude unsuitable materials.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarapata
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chabior
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cozzini
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sperl
authors.affiliation: GE Global Research, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bequé
authors.affiliation: QRM GmbH, Möhrendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Langner
authors.affiliation: QRM GmbH, Möhrendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coman
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zanette
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Yaniz
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Department & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004583:Electrons; D007368:Interferometry; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D012399:Rotation; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics