New X-ray shielding thermoplastics, an effective solution for lead replacement

Mo, 26 November 2007

The use of lead has always been considered a necessary issue in any X-ray device used in medical and industrial equipment. Intrinsic physical properties, as malleability and density, allow this metal to fit perfectly into a wealth of X-ray shielding application as covers, supports and lining of housings and enclosures. Current reliable solutions consider an overwhelming usage of metallic lead sheets and its oxides, e.g. litargirium.

Sheets are modeled and shaped by the mean of human labor as well as thermoset resins filled with lead composites used to mould semi finished parts: all these parts have to be often re-processed and finished creating lead exposure hazard.

Difficulties related to handling, production and disposal of lead and derivates can generate extra costs and are going to represent a severe issue, becoming more and more dramatic as health and environment care laws and norms will narrow the application possibilities. Restrictions are already applied in many industrial fields and may soon be extended to today untouched sectors.

Trying to be always a step forward in the search of lead-free and non toxic solutions, LATI has created LATIGRAY, a full range of radiopaque thermoplastic compounds dedicated to lead and heavy metal substitution in X-ray shielding application.

Injection moldable LATIGRAY compounds are obtained by filling with radiopaque additives a thermoplastic matrix, chosen among the many ones on the basis of project requirements. It is possible to fine tune shielding efficiency and contrast by modifying filler type and amount, from just opaque to completely shielding.

Best LATIGRAY can deal with lead frames, showing the same shielding power at very similar thickness. Those compounds are produced on PP, PA, PPS, PBT etc. with ceramics and/or metal powders to achieve the best shielding performance. Giving a closer look at technical properties of LATIGRAY, astonishing features can be found.