Fabrication of Bolus from Composite of Silicone Rubber (SR) - Copper (Cu) for Radiotherapy Application

Bolus is used for therapeutic purposes in order to increase the dose to be received in cancer on the surface of the skin. In this research, the ingredients of bolus made of Silicone Rubber (SR) with an additional copper (Cu). The purpose of this study was to characterize the density, relative electron density (RED) and surface doses of boluses. Bolus is made with a thickness of 0.5 cm and a variation of weight percent (wt%) of 0 wt%, 6 wt%, 8 wt% and 10 wt% for samples A, B, C and D, respectively. Synthesis of SR-Cu bolus samples was carried out by the chemical solution deposition method. Bolus printed with dimensions 17?17?0.5 ?cm?^3. Bolus is illuminated using electron beams from Linac with an energy of 8 MeV. The calculation results show that bolus density approaches the density value of soft tissue, with the highest density in sample A and the lowest in sample B. Overall the use of this bolus can increase the surface dose. At energy of 8 MeV, the highest percentage of surface dose was in sample D, while the lowest in sample A. The elasticity test of the sample was carried out using ASTM D638M-64 with the highest modulus young value in sample A and the lowest in sample B. The elasticity calculation results showed that all bolus samples with the addition of Cu powder will become more elastic. Bolus made from SR-Cu can be used as an alternative material for radiotherapy.