Lead remains the most commonly used material for radiation shielding but its toxicity is one of its major drawbacks. There has been significant advancement in the development of non-lead shielding material for the radiation shielding industry. Innovations have focused on producing thinner, more flexible, and effective non-lead shielding. Specifically, polymers are being utilized for their material properties and infused with tungsten and other metals to produce a new generation of shielding products.

Non-lead alternatives come in a variety of forms. The main sheet form is metal impregnated polymers which are a polymer that contains a shielding material. This capitalizes on the shielding properties of the metal, and the flexibility of the polymer.

The composition of these materials can vary depending on the product but generally, a polymer base is used for the product. Materials, such as metals and non-lead, high atomic numbered elements are added for shielding including Tungsten, Bismuth, and Iron. The percentage of these materials can vary anywhere from 0-95% of the material depending on the product. In addition, to improve the material properties, other materials like glass and carbon fibers are also in the material.

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