Radiation is a powerful tool. From medical imaging to airport security and industrial inspection, X-ray and gamma technologies give us the ability to see through objects, identify threats, and diagnose conditions that would otherwise remain hidden. Yet with that power comes responsibility. The same radiation that creates clear diagnostic images or reveals a weapon in luggage must also be contained and controlled, so it does not put patients, workers, or bystanders at risk.

For decades, the go-to solution for radiation shielding has been lead. Lead is dense, abundant, and effective at blocking X-rays. But lead also comes with a long list of problems: toxicity, environmental hazards, regulatory restrictions, and physical limitations in terms of design and durability. In today’s world, those drawbacks are no longer acceptable.

Composites are changing the world we live in. From the Stone Age, to the Bronze Age, to the Iron Age, our civilization’s history has been defined by the materials we use. In the past, humans reshaped the raw materials they discovered in nature to create the items they needed. In our modern age we have moved beyond found objects, and have developed the technology to produce new materials, whose very make up is engineered specifically to fit the task at hand.

Damaged and worn out metal components and assemblies are a major cause of downtime for businesses. However, it’s usually too expensive to replace an entire system with the latest model. The solution may be switching to composite replacement parts, which deliver a cost-effective way to increase the operational performance of existing systems.

By rebuilding your existing components and assemblies using composites, modern technology has the capability to make your parts better than they were before. Better... stronger... faster.