By Paul Rochus, December 2019

An area where material science is advancing the field of radiation shielding is in the development of non-lead shielding materials. Lead is used today because it’s cost-effective, easy to work with, and most importantly has the ability to reduce gamma radiation.

One drawback of lead is that it is a toxic substance if ingested into the body. Given the toxicity, innovations are being made to produce thinner, more flexible and effective non-lead shielding solutions. Specifically, polymers are being utilized for their material properties. They are infused with tungsten and other metals to produce a new generation of shielding products.
Composition of Polymer Based Shielding Materials
Non-lead alternatives come in a variety of forms. The main sheet form is metal-impregnated polymers which are a polymer that contains a shielding material. This capitalizes on the shielding properties of the metal, and the flexibility of the polymer.

The composition of these materials can vary depending on the product but generally, a polymer base is used for the product. Materials such as metals and non-lead, high atomic numbered elements are added for shielding including Tungsten, Bismuth, and Iron. The percentage of these materials can vary anywhere from 0-95% of the material depending on the product. In addition, to improve the material properties, other materials like glass and carbon fibers are also in the material.

Nanotek Shielding
Nanotek Technology has been developed to provide an alternative to lead radiation shielding. The result is a polymer-based shielding material. It can be made into thin materials to replace sheet lead and installed on walls with its adhesive backing, or the material can be used to provide thicker shielding in the form of interlocking bricks. This material can be molded into custom shielding pieces and used as curtains, shielded vests or in nuclear medicine vials.

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