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RD 50® Radiation Shielding Glass

Monolithic X-ray protection sight-glass with increased lead equivalent

Special Properties

  • Increased lead equivalent compared to RD 30®
  • High X-ray absorption
  • Large dimensions are possible
  • More scratch-resistant than acrylic glass
  • Non-flammable
  • Good transparency
  • A wide range of thicknesses is possible

Typical Applications

  • X-ray protection glass for medical applications
  • Protective windows for positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Radiation protection in computed tomography (CT)
  • Sight-glass for X-ray rooms
  • Radiation protection doors and windows in medical radiology rooms
  • Nuclear research

Related glass types

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RD 50® offers increased absorption of radiation

RD 50® is a clear, transparent, dense flint glass produced by SCHOTT in Germany. The modified lead-silicate glass can shield X-rays and gamma radiation in medical, industrial, and research applications. It has a lead oxide content of > 65% by weight, which results in a density of at least 5.05 g/cm2 and thus enables compliance with statutory safety regulations even at comparatively low glass thicknesses. RD 50® has a higher lead equivalent than RD 30® and therefore offers an increased radiation shielding effect and safety (see table). The X-ray absorption of RD 50® can meet the requirements of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN Germany), European Standardization, and the International Electrotechnical Commission. RD 50® radiation shielding glass's particular composition allows for positron emission tomography (PET) and computer tomography (CT) applications and their combination. RD 50® is also often an adequate solution for shielding applications in nuclear research. The glass is available in a wide range of standard thicknesses. Often, we can polish it to a custom thickness, too. If you are searching for a radiation shielding glass optimized for mammography applications, please visit our RD 30® website.

To request a quote for sight glass or windows made of original SCHOTT RD 50® high-quality radiation shielding glass, please select a thickness from the table in the specifications or click the button below.

 

Request for Quotation

 

Please follow the installation, cleaning, and care instructions for radiation shielding glass.

 

Specifications


Transmission of RD50®
radiation shielding glass 5 mm thick

View the ransmittance of RD50® at 5 mm thickness
Transmission details at 5 mm thickness


Transmission of RD50®
radiation shielding glass, 20 mm thick

View the ransmittance of RD50® at 20 mm thickness
Transmission details at 20 mm thickness


Standard Thicknesses

Please click on a glass thickness to request a quote.

Thickness (mm)

Tolerance
6.0 ±1.0
8.0 ±1.0
9.5 ±1.0
11.0 ±1.0
12.75 ±1.25
17.5 ±1.5
21.5 ±1.5
Custom thicknesses on request

Lead equivalents

Min. thickness (mm) 5.00 7.00 8.50 10.0 11.5 16.0 20.0
Tube voltage Lead equivalent in mm Pb
76 kV* 1.5 2.1 2.6 3.0 3.4 -- --
80 kV 1.5 2.1 2.6 3.1 3.5 -- --
100 kV 1.5 2.1 2.6 3.1 3.6 5.0 6.3
110 kV 1.5 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.9 6.1
150 kV 1.5 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.9 6.1
200 kV 1.4 2.0 2.4 2.9 3.3 4.6 5.8
250 kV 1.4 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.3 4.7 5.9
300 kV 1.4 2.0 2.5 2.9 3.4 4.8 6.1
350 kV* 1.4 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.9 6.2
400 kV 1.5 2.1 2.6 3.1 3.6 5.0 6.4
450 kV* 1.5 2.1 2.6 3.1 3.6 5.1 6.5
500 kV* 1.5 2.2 2.7 3.2 3.7 5.2 6.6
550 kV* 1.5 2.2 2.7 3.2 3.7 5.3 6.7
600 kV* 1.6 2.2 2.7 3.3 3.8 5.4 6.8
650 kV* 1.6 2.2 2.8 3.3 3.8 5.4 6.9
750 kV* 1.6 2.3 2.8 3.4 3.9 5.5 7.0
1000 kV* 1.6 2.4 2.9 3.5 4.0 5.7 7.3
*no tube voltage according to DIN EN 61331-1

Refractive Index

  • nD = 1.79

Mechanical Properties

  • Density: ≥ 5.05 g/cm3
  • Young's modulus E: 56.6 kN/mm2
  • Poisson number µ: 0.245
  • Torsion modulus G: 22.7 kN/mm2
  • Knoop hardness HK 0.1/20: 360
  • Stress optical coefficient C
    in 1.02 × 10-12 m2/N: 0.78

Thermal Properties

  • Mean linear coefficient of thermal expansion:
    7.4 × 10-6/K (20 °C ; 300 °C) (static measurement)
  • Transformation Temperature Tg: 467 °C
  • Viscosities and corresponding temperatures:
    • Strain point (1014.5 dPa): 444 °C
    • Annealing point (1013 dPa): 467 °C
    • Softening point (107.6 dPa): 603 °C
    • Forming temperature (106 dPa): 673 °C
    • Forming temperature (105 dPa): 729 °C
    • Forming temperature (104 dPa): 800 °C
  • Mean specific heat capacity cp:
    0.39 J/(g × K) (20–100 °C)
  • Thermal conductivity: 0.62 W/(m × K) (at 50 °C)

Chemical Properties

  • Hydrolytic resistance according to DIN ISO 719:
    • Hydrolytic Class HGB 1
    • Equivalent of alkali (Na2O) per g of glass grains: 24 μg/g
  • Acid resistance according to DIN 12 116:
    • no data available
  • Alkali resistance according to DIN ISO 695:
    • Alkali Class A3
    • Surface weight loss after 3h:
      510 mg/dm2

Please make sure to observe the installation, cleaning, and maintenance instructions for radiation shielding glass.

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