Properties of Lead for Radiation Shielding

Lead is a highly effective radiation shielding material, and is used in the manufacturing of almost all radiation safety systems. The several properties of lead that make it an effective radiation shielding material are:

•   High density
•   High atomic number
•  Good level of stability
•  Ease of fabrication
•  High degree of flexibility

Lead is vastly available and is also very cheap. Lead is less likely to be contaminated, and is immediately available for re-use. Lead shielding attenuates the harmful radiation like x-rays, gamma rays, etc. and makes them impotent. It reduces their effectiveness and creates a safe, radiation free environment for the persons working around the radiation scattering equipment.

Lead radiation shielding products by Medi-Ray ^TM

Medi-Ray^TM, the industry leader has over 34 years of expertise in the manufacture of lead radiation shielding products. Medi-Ray^TM provides customers with custom designed alternatives to reduce the product weight, thus reducing the shipping cost. They implement improved safety mechanisms through advanced shielding characteristics.

If you need any type of radiation shielding products, then call Medi-Ray^TM at 1-877-898-3003/914-979-2740 now!  You can send e-mails at sales@mediray.com or fax at 914-337-4620. Visit http://www.mediray.com/ for more information. 

Lead Products for Protection from Radiation Emitting Equipment

Radiation from equipment like x-rays, CT, MRI scanning and also from radio pharmaceuticals are harmful if people are overexposed to them. Even if they are used to detect improper functioning of internal organs and to cure certain diseases, people around should be exposed to only permeable amounts of radiation. To regulate the intensity of radiations scattered by this equipment, they are shielded with lead.

Lead is the most malleable of all common metals, can be easily shaped / bent/cut and is resistant to corrosion. Due to its density, lead is the best and most affordable shielding product.

Different lead radiation shielding products

·         Lead Plates

·         Lead Containers

·         Nuclear Medicine Accessories

·         Lead Stampings

·         Syringe Shields

·         Lead Bricks

·         X-Ray Shielding

·         Sheet Lead

·         Storage and Decay Containers

·         Vial Shields

·         Shipping Containers

Lead radiation shielding products are not only used in the medical field, but also in military, nuclear power industries and other industries for protection from radiation.

Medi-Ray is the industry leader in lead radiation shielding products, and produces a range of products to meet different industrial requirements. Medi-Ray uses timely and cost-effective methods of producing quality lead products. Medi-Ray applies the latest software technology to achieve required customer's design, reduce costs, improve overall quality, and adapt to product revisions and improvements.

Medi-Ray's production foresight enables customers to incorporate the latest technology advancements with no increase in costs. If are in need quality lead radiation shielding products, then call Medi-Ray at 877-898-3003.

Medi-RayTM: Medi-RayTM is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Medi-RayTM has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Medi-RayTM 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.

X-Ray Shielding

X-rays are an important part of medical technology and are indispensable tool for monitoring and diagnosing medical conditions. Despite many medical benefits that x-ray imaging provides, it is also a potentially dangerous process that can cause cancer or other medical complications unless the proper protection is utilized. So, everything in X-Ray room is X-Ray shielded.

X-ray equipment must be installed in adequately shielded rooms to ensure that public in the vicinity of the x-ray installations are not unduly exposed to x-ray radiation. Each x-ray installation must be assessed for shielding requirements based on the:-

• dimensions of the room
• positions of the x-ray control, vertical bucky and operator
• proposed construction materials (protective screens, walls, floors, doors)
• areas adjacent to x-ray room (occupancy, future use)
•  x-ray workload

Following is the guideline may be used to determine the shielding required for a new installation or when modifying an existing one:

• The current/future x-ray workload in the room does not exceed 20 exposures (films) in a 40-hour work week schedule, with the primary beam directed to an upright bucky. In addition, a workload of up to 2 exposures per week for radiographing extremities can be included, provided the primary beam is directed vertically down to the floor of the room.
• The x-ray unit is operated at up to 100 kVp, with a maximum film (cassette) size of 35cm x 43cm (14” x 17”).
• The room containing the unit has Shielding is required to provide protection outside the room, a) for workers, to meet the Action Level of 1mSv/year, as specified in the WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and b) for members of the public not to exceed the recommended public dose limit of 1 mSv/year.
• For workers directly involved in the taking of x-rays, this guideline provides an option for shielding the control booth to either 20 mSv/year (the maximum permissible dose) or to 1 mSv/year (WSBC Action Level).
• Occupancy outside barriers: the shielding options (over) allow for consideration of the amount of time (occupancy) spent by persons outside each of the barriers (i.e. walls/doors)
• If the facility has accessible areas (e.g. rooms) above and/or below the x-ray room, protection for these areas must be provided in the intervening floors (see over).

Lead shielding for radiation is a useful tool in accomplishing radiation protection for x-ray applications used in Medical technology. Utilizing lead castings, sheet lead and lead foil, Medi-Ray^TMhas developed clinic, laboratory and medical office products for all X-Ray applications. Lead x-ray shields offer advanced protection to guard specific body parts on the patient or technician during x-ray procedures.

X-Ray shielding can be done using lead sheet of 2 mm thickness. Mobile X-ray barrier can be mounted on wheels and moved around easily. This is used extensively in medical industry.

A wide range of radiation barriers are available in many different sizes and unique configurations to accommodate the specific protection needs of different radiation processes. Redesign of current medical products can provide more user-friendly products with no increase in costs.

Medi-rayTM:  Medi-rayTM is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Medi-rayTM has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Medi-rayTM 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.

Lead for Radiation Shielding

Since 1974, Mediray has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Mediray is mainly known for shielding radioactive products, X-ray, PET, CT or MRI equipment. Lead is used for shielding of radioactive products.

Lead - Best Radiation Shielding Metal

Lead is the best metal in providing protection from various sources of radiation. It has become a standard in the design of Radiation Protection systems. Lead shielding refers to the use of lead to shield or protect people or objects from radiation. Because of its high density and high atomic number, lead can fade certain kinds of radiation. And that’s why lead is used as radiation protection in applications ranging from x-ray imaging and PET rooms to nuclear reactors.

Criteria for Selection of Shielding Material

Thickness is not enough for a material to attenuate radiation. There are certain characteristics that are required in a material to use as radiation shielding.

• Shielding material should have high density and high atomic number, which in turn is better attenuator of x-rays and gamma rays.
• Shielding material should have good heat conductivity.
• Shielding material must be resistant to radiation damage.
• Shielding material should have required thickness and weight.

Apart from the above characteristics, you should also consider the cost of shielding material, transportation and installation. Also take into account its wastage and scrap value; and availability and ease of shielding material.

Properties of Lead as Shielding Material

The properties of lead are its high density, high atomic number; high level of stability, ease of fabrication and availability makes it excellent shielding material.

• Lead has extremely low-level neutron absorption and practically no gamma radiation. It cannot become radioactive. Even after long exposure of neutrons, lead emits an insignificant amount of radiation due to activation.
• Lead is not too dense, but it is readily available, easily fabricated and is less expensive than other high-density materials.
• Lead is more uniform throughout as compared to other materials.
• Lead is less likely to become contaminated with dirt, which in turn may become radioactive.
• Lead can be immediately available for reuse, adaption or for sale as scrap.

Forms of Lead Available For Radiation Shielding

For radiation shielding various forms of lead are used. The shielding of containers for radioactive materials is usually metallic lead. Radioactive materials in laboratories and the medical industry are usually handled by remote control from a position of safety. Personal shielding includes lead aprons (such as the garment used during dental x-rays), thyroid shields, and lead gloves. There are also shielding devices available for laboratory equipment, including lead castles, structures composed of lead bricks, and thick containers for storing and transporting radioactive samples.

We understand why lead is the best shielding material. Mediray is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology as it mainly deals with shielding of X-ray, CT, PET, MRI equipment.

MedirayTM:  MedirayTM is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, MedirayTM has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. MedirayTM 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.

Lead Shielding for Medical Purpose

The properties of Lead which make it an excellent shielding material are its density, high atomic number, high level of stability, ease of fabrication, high degree of flexibility in application, and its availability. And that’s why lead is used as radiation protection in applications ranging from x-ray imaging and PET rooms to nuclear reactors. In this article, author explains how lead shielding is used for medical purposes.

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Lead is the best metal in providing protection from various sources of radiation and has become a standard in the design of Radiation Protection systems. The properties of Lead which make it an excellent shielding material are its density, high atomic number, high level of stability, ease of fabrication, high degree of flexibility in application, and its availability. And that’s why lead is used as radiation protection in applications ranging from x-ray imaging and PET rooms to nuclear reactors.

A senior consultant from Medi-Ray^TM1 says about lead shielding, “Whether you are shielding radioactive materials, X-Ray, CT, MRI or PET scanning equipment or the rooms that house them, Medi-Ray^TM has the shielding components you need: sheet lead and foils, adhesive backed and coated lead materials, custom components and lead stampings.” (Ref: Medi-Ray^TM, http://www.mediray.com/product_category/products/lead_shielding )

Radioactive materials in laboratories and hospitals are usually handled by remote control from a position of safety behind a wall of Lead bricks and in hospitals, X-ray machines are normally installed in rooms shield with Lead Sheet / Lead Foil.

The X-ray can cause physical damage to person exposed to them so it is necessary to shield the x-ray generating units with a material that resists x-ray penetration.

For medical radiographic and fluoroscopic rooms, the lead shielding generally does not extend above a line 7 ft., 0 in. from the finished floor; and if the services lines and ducts can be located above this line, shielding around them is obviously unnecessary. For X-ray therapy rooms, lead shielding may extend to the ceiling or structural slab. The ceiling or slab above and the floor may also be lead lined, depending upon the output and other conditions.

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1. Mediray^TM:  Mediray^TM is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Mediray^TM has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Mediray^TM 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.