Forms of lead used for radiation shielding

Lead has long been recognized as a highly effective material in providing protection from various sources of radiation, and as such, has become a standard in the design of radiation protection systems. Lead shielding refers to the use of lead to shield people or objects from unintended radiation.

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Lead can effectively contain certain kinds of radiation because of its high density and high atomic number; principally, it is effective at stopping alpha rays, gamma rays, and x-rays.

Different forms of lead used for radiation shielding

Lead Laminates

Sheet lead that is bonded to other materials such as wood, steel, wallboard, plastic, and aluminum for the manufacture of panels, doors, cabinets, portable screens, etc., is known as lead laminate.

Lead Sheet

Sheet Lead is one of the most malleable of common metals. Sheet lead is very effective for waterproofing, soundproofing, and isolating mechanical vibration. It is highly resistant to environmental and chemical corrosion, and so can be used in nearly any indoor or outdoor application. Lead sheet is exceptionally versatile and easy to work with.

Lead Plate

Lead Plates can be composed of 99.9 pure lead or antimonial lead. These plates are molded from precision high-strength steel molds and can be machined to exact dimensions.

Lead Brick

Lead bricks are typically used in nuclear and radiation therapy applications. However, lead bricks can also be used for radioactive isotope creation, ballast weights and counterbalances. The interlocking feature of these lead bricks eliminates any radiation leakage in the wall. These interlocking lead bricks are offered in sizes that are manageable and easy to stack, and they require no mortar or any other additional shielding materials.

Lead glass

To provide viewing of the patient in the x-ray room while providing protection to the operator, lead glass viewing windows can be furnished in the barrier. It is produced 1/4 inch thickness which is equivalent to 1.5mm sheet lead. Lead glass can be installed in multiple layers so as to provide a lead equivalency to the lead in the wall in which it is installed.

 Lead Foils

Lead Foil is a form of lead sheet that is thin enough to be easily cut and formed using shears. Lead foil can be stamped or formed into almost any shape so that it can be placed around any area that needs protection. Lead foil is often supplied backed with pressure sensitive adhesive or vinyl to aid the application of the product.

Lead Gloves

Used to store larger quantities of radioactive pharmaceutical inventories, these Glove Boxes are designed with stainless steel ergonomic handles, precision hinges and finely counterbalanced doors. They permit one-handed fingertip operation, which helps the rapid selection and removal of radio pharmaceutical vials and minimizes the clinicians' exposure.

Lead Clad Tubing

Lead clad tubing is used for shielding of radioactive materials

Lead Wool

Lead wool is used for filling deep cracks in a radiation barrier

Lead aprons

Lead apron is used to provide protection against harmful x rays, which is widely used in diagnostic departments of hospitals and varied other medical institutions.

Lead Thyroid Shields

Thyroid Shields are widely used for providing ultimate protection for the neck against X-ray radiation when treating thyroid problems.

Lead products

Medi-RayTM¹ is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Medi-RayTM is noted as the industry leader in radio-pharmaceutical containers. The essential elements of solidity and porosity-free castings have been the focus of Medi-RayTM packaging engineers and radiation physicists.
Medi-Ray’s staff of engineers, in concert with numerous security, detection and scanning equipment companies, has developed the latest in shielding components. Medi-Ray’s lead components are utilized in a wide variety of security environments from port security to air-line baggage, mail and freight applications. Medi-RayTM has the shielding components you need: sheet lead and foils, adhesive backed and coated lead materials, custom components and lead stampings.

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1. Medi-Ray: Medi-Ray is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Medi-Ray has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Medi-Ray is mainly known for shielding radioactive products, X-ray, PET, CT or MRI equipment. For any further enquiry or to get free quotes,  call at 877-898-3003 / 914-979-2740 or fax at 914-337-4620. You can send e-mails at sales@mediray.com. Office is located at 150 Marbledale Road, Tuckahoe, New York 10707. Visit http://www.mediray.com/ for more information.