The Substituation of Tungsten Plastic to Lead in Molded Products

There is a technique of tungsten plastic to develop tungsten-filled plastics that can replace lead for radiation protection. 

This technique has converted more than 50 lead-shielding parts with a proprietary non-lead, polymer shielding material. Tungsten plastic technique is more and more popular for radiation protection now. Lead may be the asbestos of the 21 Century, but tungsten material superior in its high specific density and denser gravity. Medical device manufacturers in the United States also expect to face stiff regulations on use of lead. Tungsten in a nylon 6 base offers equivalent X-ray shielding and can be molded on standard equipment. However, as a new type technique applied on tungsten plastic, the manufacture cost will be expensive but it has an effective function to absorb radiation better than lead. For more details, you could visit http://www.tungsten-alloy.com/tungsten-plastic.html.

Different Radiation and Shielding

Lead
Lead, atomic number 82, is the most popular metal used for radiation protection due to its inexpensive cost. It works well in shielding against radiation because electrons stop x-rays, and lead has 82 protons and electrons, which is higher than many other metals. When using metals to stop x-rays from passing through, it is important to note that the thickness of the metal is just as important as the number of electrons in the metal. A metal with a lower number of electrons per atom, such as aluminum, could also be used, but it would have to be a lot thicker in order to provide the same level of protection.

Tungsten
Tungsten alloys, which form a solid microstructure of tungsten, protect against x-rays because of their high density. This means that tungsten alloys have a greater x-ray stopping ability than lead by up to 60 percent. Due to this greater x-ray stopping power, the metal can be manufactured into aprons and shields that are considerably less thick and bulky than those made out of lead. This is a newer technology than lead and is more expensive to manufacture, so it is currently not used as often. As technology continues to develop and tungsten alloy manufacturing becomes more common, the prices will likely drop and tungsten alloys will be utilized more often.

What Are the Different Types of Radiation Shielding?

Radiation shielding is the use of materials or devices to protect against ionizing radiation. Radiation occurs when energy is emitted from one substance and travels out in straight waves, possibly penetrating another substance. When this energy is absorbed, it can have the effect of exciting or destabilizing atoms. If a certain radiation penetrates an animal, it can have harmful impacts on the body, sometimes causing cancer or deformities. Shielding uses specific types of material, such as a leaded glass pane, a lead apron, or packed dirt, to act as a barrier between the body and the source of radiation.

However, compared with other materials, tungsten alloy material is the most suitable for radiation protection.As tungsten alloy is the right material for radiation protection, as its combination of radiographic density (more than 60% denser than lead), machinability, good corrosion resistance, high radiation absorption (superior to lead and steel), simplified life cycle and high strength.