Tungsten alloy collimator is an optical or radiation control device made from tungsten alloy material, primarily used to guide and limit the direction and range of particle beams, wave beams, or radiation beams. Renowned for its high density, excellent radiation attenuation performance, heat resistance, and mechanical strength, it outperforms lead materials in efficiency and environmental friendliness, with applications spanning medical, industrial, and scientific fields.
I. Medical Field
In medical diagnostics, tungsten alloy collimators are core components of nuclear medicine imaging equipment, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT). They guide radiation beams to project onto detectors, reducing interference from stray photons and enhancing image quality.
In radiotherapy, tungsten alloy collimators are primarily used in multi-leaf collimators, consisting of thin tungsten blades that move independently to shape the radiation beam, targeting tumors. With superior radiation attenuation compared to lead, tungsten alloy achieves the same protection level at a smaller thickness, and its resistance to deformation and heat makes it suitable for repeated sterilization and long-term use.
Additionally, tungsten alloy is widely used in radiation shielding equipment, such as syringe shields, isotope containers, and transport cases. As the transportation distance and activity levels of medical isotopes increase, tungsten alloy’s compact shielding design becomes the preferred choice.
II. Industrial Field
Tungsten alloy collimators play a critical role in industrial radiation detection and nuclear engineering. In radiation detection equipment for oil and gas exploration, they shield harmful radiation from radioactive logging sources while using collimated beams to probe geological formations.
In the nuclear industry, tungsten alloy collimators are used in coded aperture masks or nested masks to support high-resolution radiation imaging. Furthermore, in particle physics experiments, they help adjust the direction of particle beams, reduce scattering, and improve experimental precision.
III. Scientific Field
In scientific research, tungsten alloy collimators support small animal irradiation platforms, used in studies combining cancer immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
