All that you need to know about different radiation shielding

materials

Radiation is a serious safety concern in

many work environments such as atomic

power plants, facilities with commercial or

medical x-ray systems, radioisotope tasks,

and a variety of other working sectors.

Controlling radiation and eliminating the

risks it poses to worker safety and the work

environment is a critical undertaking

required by any workplace with equipment

that can produce dangerous levels of

radiation. Radiation shielding is essential to

protecting both human safety and the work

environment, in addition to protecting delicate components, such as electronics or film.

The process of controlling the effects and level of transmission of radioactive rays differs according

to the type of radiation. Typically, particle radiation, such as alpha particles, beta particles, neutron

and cosmic radiation, is classified independently from electromagnetic radiation, such as alpha or

beta particles. Different types of ionizing radiation interact in different ways with shielding material.

The effectiveness of shielding

depends on the stopping power

of radiation particles, which

varies with the type and energy

of radiation as well as the

shielding material being used.

Different radiation shielding

materials are therefore required

depending on the application

and the type and energy of the

radiation. For example, high

atomic number (i.e. higher

density) materials are very

effective in shielding x-ray and

gamma ray sources, however,

they are ineffective or even worse, counter-effective, when attempting to shield neutrons or beta

particles. In contrast, particle radiation sources are much better shielded by lower atomic number

materials.

There are different materials that can be used as effective radiation shielding materials depending

on the radiation source. Radiation protecting is the ability to reduce a wave’s or ray’s impact by

avoiding or colliding contaminants through the shielding material. Charged contaminants may be

attenuated by losing power to responses with electrons in the shield, while x-ray and gamma

radiation are attenuated through photoemission. Neutrons can be made less harmful through a

mixture of flexible and inelastic spreading, and most neutron shields are designed as such. The main

kinds of radiation experienced in commercial tasks include:

• Photon Radiation (Gamma and X-rays): Photon radiation is considered gamma rays if produced by

a nuclear reaction, subatomic particle decay, or radioactive decay within the nucleus. If the radiation

is produced outside the nucleus, it is known as x-ray radiation.

• Neutron Shielding: Neutrons are contaminants that have neither a positive nor a negative charge,

and cannot directly cause ionization. However, fast neutrons will interact with the protons and

produce and scatter radioactive nuclei of the materials.

There are several factors that impact the selection and use of radioactive protecting components.

Concerns such as attenuation performance, strength, process ability, heat qualities, and cost can

determine the optimal shielding material for a particular application. Lead has been the

predominant radiation shielding material of choice to date due to its high atomic number and

shielding efficacy, its low cost and easy process ability. However, with increasing regulatory pressure

against the processing, sale and use of lead products due to its toxicity, industries are forced to look

elsewhere for radiation shielding solutions.

For many part makers, lead free thermoplastics have become a modern material solution for lead

free radiation shielding. Ecomass Technologies is the technological leader in lead free shielding

materials, providing thermoplastic shielding solutions to the medical, industrial and nuclear

industries for 15+ years. Injection moldable, these materials can be molded into complex shapes

and completely eliminate any regulatory concerns as they are 100% lead free and do not contain any

toxic constituents. Moreover, custom compounded to the exact density and formulation required by

the customer’s application, Ecomass delivers material solutions tailored to the customers’ exact

needs, optimizing the balance between cost and performance. Our goal is to relentlessly pursue

innovative methods and materials for radiation shielding purposes and to be recognized as the

leader in lead free radiation shielding technology.

Ecomass Technologies

4101 Parkstone Heights Dr.

Suite 380

Austin, Texas 78746-7482

USA

info@ecomass.com