Lead + Steel Fabrication Overview
In most applications Lead (Pb) is the best material choice for gamma radiation shielding. The attenuating properties of Lead are only surpassed by exotic and expensive materials such as Tungsten (W) and depleted Uranium (DU). However, exposed Lead poses EH&S hazards. Furthermore, industrial settings require more durability and strength than raw Lead can offer.
Encasing Lead in steel eliminates its hazards and weak material properties, while retaining its attenuation performance and cost effectiveness.
There are challenges to designing and manufacturing Lead encased in steel products. Pouring molten Lead into a steel enclosure can cause warping and make tight tolerances difficult to achieve. Post Lead pour machining can be complicated by the extreme weight. Using Lead plates in steel enclosures can result in radiation streaming.
NPO has been excelling at these challenges for over 30 years. We take on projects scaling from pounds to tons while achieving some of the most challenging tolerance scenarios.
Products
- Custom fabrications
- Casks
- Pigs
- Radionuclide Generator
- Machined lead
- Lead pour
Services / QC
- ISO certified
- CSA W59 compliant fabrication
- AWS and ASME compliant welding
- ANST Weld Inspection
- ASME B30.20 – Below the Hook Lift Testing
- Gamma Source Testing
- Seismic/Structural Analysis
- Expedited delivery