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Radiation Shielding Glass RD 30®

Monolithic X-Ray Protection Glass

Special Properties

  • Monolithic glass with ≥ 0.5 mm Pb lead equivalent
  • Protection against X-rays and gamma radiation
  • Non-flammable
  • More scratch-resistant than acrylic
  • High optical transmittance and clarity
  • Large sizes available
  • Sight glass quality
  • Holes and recesses with special dimensions are possible
  • Can be ground and polished to custom thicknesses

Typical Applications

  • Sight glass windows for X-ray and gamma radiation protection
  • Glass parts for mammography devices
  • Medical X-ray rooms
  • Protective glass for industrial radiation testing devices
  • Dental radiology applications
  • Window in radiology room doors
  • Radiation based material test equipment
  • High-energy physics
  • Glove boxes
  • Radiation barriers
  • Safety windows in medical areas

Related materials and information

 

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RD 30® Glass protects from x-ray and gamma radiation

RD 30® is a lead-containing flat glass product that protects against gamma and X-ray radiation. Such radiation is used for diagnostic purposes in medical technology, in radiation therapy, or in industrial material testing equipment. Because these types of radiation have a high potential to damage health, accidental exposure must be prevented at all costs. For this reason, transparent openings in medical devices or viewing ports in doors to radiation areas are protected by radiation shielding glass.

RD 30® from SCHOTT is the only radiation shielding glass product manufactured in Germany. It is an ideal and proven, high-quality protective solution for many X-ray applications. RD 30® is a monolithic glass that contains lead oxide and provides a lead-equivalent of ≥ 0.5 mm Pb at 56 kV (see table). The Pb value is a measure of how protective a radiation shielding glass is. It is expressed in mm Pb, which is equivalent to the protection capacity of pure lead.

SCHOTT developed RD 30® lead glass specifically for safety in medical areas with lower levels of X-ray radiation, such as mammography workstations. At tube voltages of up to 150 kV, RD 30® glass offers a lead-equivalent Pb of ≥ 0.5 mm. It is also often used in industrial X-ray test devices and is an important safety element in various scientific nuclear applications.

If you are searching for a glass with higher lead equivalents or for thicker and more protective radiation shielding materials, please refer to our RD 50® datasheet.

To request a quote for original RD 30® sight glass windows, please click the button below:

 

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Specifications


RD30® Glass
Transmission spectrum in the UV-NIR range


Zoom in on the graph to see details


Standard Thicknesses

Please click on the glass thickness to request a quote.
Thickness (mm) Tolerance
6.00 ±0.25
Smaller custom thicknesses are available upon request.

Lead-equivalent for X-rays

RD 30® glass 6 mm thick
Tube Voltage
(kV)		 Lead-equivalent
(mm Pb)
< 50 ≥ 0.5
50 ≥ 0.5
56 ≥ 0.5
76 ≥ 0.5
80 ≥ 0.5
100 ≥ 0.5
110 ≥ 0.5
150 ≥ 0.5

Refractive Index

  • ne = 1.579

Mechanical Characteristics

  • Density: ≥ 3.13 g/cm3
  • Young's modulus E: 65 kN/mm2
  • Poisson number µ: 0.229
  • Torsion modulus G: 26 kN/mm2
  • Knoop hardness HK 0.1/20: 460

Thermal Characteristics

  • Mean linear coefficient of thermal expansion:
    10.5 × 10-6/K (20 °C ; 300 °C) (static measurement)
  • Transformation Temperature Tg: 452 °C
  • Viscosities and corresponding temperatures:
    • Strain point (1014.5 dPa): 424 °C
    • Annealing point (1013 dPa): 452 °C
    • Softening point (107.6 dPa): 620 °C
    • Forming temperature (106 dPa): 716 °C
    • Forming temperature (105 dPa): 798 °C
    • Forming temperature (104 dPa): 909 °C

Chemical Properties

  • Hydrolytic resistance according to DIN ISO 719:
    • Hydrolytic Class HGB 3
    • Equivalent of alkali (Na2O) per g of glass grains: 138 μg/g
  • Acid-resistant according to DIN 12 116:
    • Acid Class S4
    • Half surface weight loss after 6 h:
      67 mg/dm2
  • Alkali resistant according to DIN ISO 695:
    • Alkali Class A2
    • Surface weight loss after 3 h:
      139 mg/dm2

If you need thicker radiation shielding glass materials with a thicknesses of up to 20 mm or a higher lead equivalent for increased shielding capacity and safety as required for nuclear applications, please visit our RD 50® datasheet.

 

Note: To ensure the continued performance and safety of leaded radiation shielding glass products, read and follow the installation, cleaning, and maintenance instructions.

 

All data and specifications given are average guide values and are not guaranteed. Moreover, please consider the “Notes on Specifications”.

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Last update: March 19, 2025