Abstract—For the first time, Gum Arabic (GA) is used as a binder in particleboards preparation and the attenuation properties of the fabricated particleboards were evaluated to check their suitability as tissue equivalent material. Gum Arabic was added into Rhizophora spp. particleboards of four particle sizes at three different GA adhesive levels. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to measure the linear and the mass attenuation coefficients of the fabricated particleboards at effective energy range of 17.4 - 26.7 keV. This was achieved by determining the attenuation of Kα1 X-ray fluorescent (XRF) photons from niobium, molybdenum, palladium, silver and tin targets. The results were compared with theoretical values of water calculated using XCOM computer program. The mass attenuation coefficients of the GA bonded Rhizophora spp. particleboards were found to be close to the values of water calculated in XCOM at the same photon energies. Luckily, fabricated particleboards showed tissue equivalent results which optimistically can open a new window on the consumption of such a natural adhesive in particleboards as phantom material in dosimetric phantoms and quality control applications.

Index Terms—Attenuation coefficients, gum arabic, particleboards, Rhizophora spp, X-ray flourescence.

A. Abuarra, Sivamany Kandaiya, E. T. Tousi, and B. Ababneh are with the Medical Physics Department, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia (Corresponding author: A. Abuarra; e-mail: aliom@yahoo.com, lan@usm.my, ehsan.tousi@yahoo.com, baker773@yahoo.com).
S. Bauk is with the Physics Section, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia (e-mail: sabar@usm.my).
R. Hashim is with the Division of Bioresource, Paper and Coatings Technology, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia (e-mail: hrokiah1@gmail.com).

Cite: Ali Abuarra, Sabar Bauk, Rokiah Hashim, Sivamany Kandaiya, Ehsan Taghizadeh Tousi, and Baker Ababneh, "XRF Technique for the Evaluation of Gum Arabic Bonded Rhizophora spp. Particleboards as Tissue Equivalent Material," International Journal of Applied Physics and Mathematics vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 201-204, 2014.