Lead glass Lead glass
Lead-rich oxide glass. NIST's assumed composition for Glass, Lead (by weight): Pb 0.751938, O 0.156453, Si 0.080866, Ti 0.008092, As 0.002651
Lead glass is a transparent glass in which lead oxide is a major ingredient.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Visible light
85 %
Lead equivalent at 80 kV
1.5 mm Pb
Gamma attenuation
0.3 cm-1
Density
5.05 g/cm3
Recipe, share of the weight
- Pb not statedLead
- O not statedOxygen
- Si not statedSilicon
- Ti not statedTitanium
- As not statedArsenic
Best for
Transparent X-ray and gamma shielding for windows and viewing panels, such as CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment
Weakest at
Heavy (RS 520 has a minimum density of 5.18 g/cm3), contains lead, and no flight or space use was found in this run
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Hazard is in the lead oxide, not the glass sheet
- If it fails Moderate. Induced discharge in RS glasses above a total dose threshold
- Corrosion Moderate. SCHOTT gives a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy or more for two RS glasses, and says cerium oxide doping prevents browning.
Quick facts: Lead glass
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.73 to 6.22 g/cm³ | 5 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Lead glass?
Lead glass has a density of 2.73 to 6.22 g/cm³. The range covers 5 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Lead glass used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Viewing windows, doors and panoramic glazing at CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment (RD 50); Mammography shielding panels (RD 30); Shielding window frames for nuclear energy and nuclear waste facilities (RS series).
Why it exists
Lead glass is a transparent material for shielding X-rays and gamma rays where a window or viewing panel is needed. NIST's assumed lead glass has a density of 6.220 g/cm3 and 75.19% lead by weight. SCHOTT's RD 50 has a minimum density of 5.05 g/cm3 and at least 65% lead oxide, and transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm. The sources read here show the same trade: more lead gives more shielding and more density, and RD 50 keeps a view through the glass.
Where it's used
CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment (RD 50)
SCHOTT says RD 50 is supplied as stock sheets or custom panels with boreholes and cut-outs. It is suited to PET and CT scan facilities and to windows, doors and panoramic glazing for analytical equipment.
Mammography (RD 30)
SCHOTT says RD 30 is developed for analogue and digital mammography, is available in large sizes, and can be bent or moulded.
Nuclear energy and nuclear waste facilities (RS series)
SCHOTT says the RS glasses were developed for nuclear energy production and nuclear waste treatment, and are supplied as finished blocks, plates or custom castings for shielding window frames.
Recipe
Lead-rich oxide glass. NIST's assumed composition for Glass, Lead (by weight): Pb 0.751938, O 0.156453, Si 0.080866, Ti 0.008092, As 0.002651
Lead glass is a glass in which lead oxide, PbO, is a major ingredient; in ordinary glass the same position is held by calcium. NIST's assumed composition for Glass, Lead is 75.19% lead by weight, with oxygen, silicon, titanium and arsenic making up the rest.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Pb | not stated | Carries most of the mass of the glass, which gives it high density and strong absorption of X-rays and gamma rays. |
| Oxygen O | not stated | Bonds to lead and silicon to form the glass network. |
| Silicon Si | not stated | Forms the silica network that holds the glass together. |
| Titanium Ti | not stated | Minor constituent in NIST's assumed composition; its role is not described in the sources read. |
| Arsenic As | not stated | Minor constituent in NIST's assumed composition; its role is not described in the sources read. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Visible light
85 %
measured
RD 50 transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm thickness, and RD 30 transmits 90.5% at 6.0 mm, both per SCHOTT's technical data.
Lead equivalent at 80 kV
1.5 mm Pb
measured
RD 50 in a 5.0 to 7.0 mm thick sheet gives 1.5 mm Pb equivalence at 80 kV. RD 30 at 6.0 mm gives at least 0.5 mm Pb at 80 kV, per SCHOTT's lead-equivalent tables.
Gamma attenuation
0.3 cm-1
measured
RS 520 has a linear attenuation coefficient of 0.3 cm-1 at 1.25 MeV (the 60Co line), 0.5 cm-1 at 0.662 MeV (137Cs) and 3.54 cm-1 at 0.2 MeV, per SCHOTT's table.
Density
5.05 g/cm3
measured
The RD 50 minimum density is 5.05 g/cm3 and the RS 520 minimum density is 5.18 g/cm3, both as printed by SCHOTT.
How it compares
Lead glass is heavier than ordinary soda-lime glass, which Wikipedia describes as having a lower density. Among the SCHOTT products read here, RS 520 has the highest lead oxide content (71 wt% by synthesis) and the highest minimum density (5.18 g/cm3), and its linear attenuation at 1.25 MeV is 0.3 cm-1. RD 50 has a lower lead oxide content (at least 65%) and minimum density (5.05 g/cm3), and transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm. RD 30 has the lowest minimum density in this group (at least 3.13 g/cm3) and is the product SCHOTT aims at mammography.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | Lead glass |
|---|---|
| Physical and electrical | |
| Density of NIST's assumed lead glass composition | 6.22 g/cm³1 |
| Minimum density of RD 50 radiation shielding glass | > 5.05 g/cm³2 |
| Minimum density of RD 30 radiation shielding glass | > 3.13 g/cm³3 |
| Minimum density of RS 520 radiation shielding glass | > 5.18 g/cm³4 |
| Density of a laboratory special lead glass (sample 1, seven oxides) | 2.73 g/cm³18 |
| Other measurements | |
| Lead oxide content of RD 50 | > 65 %5 |
| Lead oxide content of RD 30 | > 22 %6 |
| Lead oxide content of RS 520 (synthesis composition) | 71 wt%7 |
| refractive index | 1.79 -8 |
| Light transmittance of RD 50 at 5.0 mm | 85 %9 |
| Light transmittance of RD 30 at 6.0 mm | 90.5 %10 |
| Lead equivalent of RD 50 at 80 kV | 1.5 mm Pb11 |
| Lead equivalent of RD 30 at 6.0 mm | > 0.5 mm Pb12 |
| Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.2 MeV | 3.54 cm-113 |
| Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.662 MeV (137Cs line) | 0.5 cm-114 |
| Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 1.25 MeV (60Co line) | 0.3 cm-115 |
| Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at 0.1 MeV | 4.216 cm²/g16 |
| Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at the lead K absorption edge | 5.824 cm²/g17 |
| Lead oxide content of special lead glass sample (1) in the batch | 28 %19 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Viewing windows in CT, PET and analytical facilities, where both shielding and a view through the glass are needed. RD 50 transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm.
- Mammography panels, where SCHOTT gives a lead equivalent of at least 0.5 mm Pb at 6.0 mm for RD 30.
- Nuclear window frames with high total-dose tolerance, where the RS series is supplied as blocks, plates or castings.
Watch out for
- The lead oxide powder is hazardous. The finished glass was not classified in any source read.
- Lead glass is dense: RS 520 has a minimum density of 5.18 g/cm3, and RD 50 has a minimum of 5.05 g/cm3.
- Browning and induced discharge in RS glasses appear above fixed total-dose limits printed by SCHOTT. The table does not give a limit for every RS glass.
- No flight or space use was found in this run.
The sources read support lead glass for transparent X-ray and gamma shielding in fixed installations such as CT, PET, analytical equipment and nuclear windows. The SCHOTT figures show the trade between lead content, density and visible transmission, and no space qualification was found.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density of NIST's assumed lead glass composition | Density column of NIST Table 2, printed as 6.220E+00 g/cm3 | composition NIST assumed mass fractions Pb 0.751938, O 0.156453, Si 0.080866, Ti 0.008092, As 0.002651note on value nominal value; NIST says some density values are only nominal | A single assumed composition used for X-ray attenuation calculations, not a measured value for any SCHOTT or other product. |
| 2 | Minimum density of RD 50 radiation shielding glass | Technical data table, printed as "≥ 5.05" density in g/cm3 | product RD 50condition as-delivered condition | — |
| 3 | Minimum density of RD 30 radiation shielding glass | Technical data table, printed as "≥ 3.13" density in g/cm3 | product RD 30condition as-delivered condition | — |
| 4 | Minimum density of RS 520 radiation shielding glass | General characteristics table, printed as minimum density in g/cm3 | product RS 520, nuclear seriesnote on value labelled Minimum density | — |
| 5 | Lead oxide content of RD 50 | Technical data table, printed as "≥ 65%" lead oxide content (PbO) | product RD 50basis as printed (no basis stated) | — |
| 6 | Lead oxide content of RD 30 | Technical data table, printed as "≥ 22%" lead oxide content (PbO) | product RD 30basis as printed (no basis stated) | — |
| 7 | Lead oxide content of RS 520 (synthesis composition) | Characteristics of Radiation Shielding Glasses table, PbO content in weight-% from synthesis | product RS 520basis PbO weight-% of the synthesis composition, not of the finished glass | — |
| 8 | refractive index | Technical data table, printed as refractive index nD at 20 °C | product RD 50temperature 20 °Cwavelength nD (sodium d-line, as the page labels it) | This is the RD 50 figure. The same SCHOTT page gives nd 1.81 for RS 520, which is a different product and is not used as a lead glass value here. |
| 9 | Light transmittance of RD 50 at 5.0 mm | Technical data table, printed as light transmittance (d = 5.0 mm) | product RD 50thickness 5.0 mm | — |
| 10 | Light transmittance of RD 30 at 6.0 mm | Technical data table, printed as light transmittance (d = 6.0 mm) | product RD 30thickness 6.0 mm | — |
| 11 | Lead equivalent of RD 50 at 80 kV | Lead-equivalent table for X-ray quality, printed in mm Pb | product RD 50glass thickness 5.0 to 7.0 mm (minimum to maximum thickness of the range)tube voltage 80 kV | — |
| 12 | Lead equivalent of RD 30 at 6.0 mm | Lead-equivalent table, printed as "≥ 0.5" in mm Pb (the same value is printed for 50 to 150 kV) | product RD 30glass thickness 6.0 plus or minus 0.25 mmtube voltage 80 kV | — |
| 13 | Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.2 MeV | Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1 | product RS 520energy 0.2 MeV | — |
| 14 | Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.662 MeV (137Cs line) | Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1 | product RS 520energy 0.662 MeV (137Cs) | — |
| 15 | Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 1.25 MeV (60Co line) | Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1 | product RS 520energy 1.25 MeV (60Co) | — |
| 16 | Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at 0.1 MeV | Mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) printed in the NIST table for Glass, Lead | composition NIST assumed Glass, Lead compositionphoton energy 0.1 MeV | — |
| 17 | Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at the lead K absorption edge | Mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) printed in the NIST table for Glass, Lead, printed as 5.824E+00 | composition NIST assumed Glass, Lead compositionphoton energy 0.0880045 MeV (lead K absorption edge, as printed) | — |
| 18 | Density of a laboratory special lead glass (sample 1, seven oxides) | Density of special lead glass as printed in the text, calculated by weighing the sample and measuring its volume | composition sample (1) of Table 1, seven oxides with lead oxide 28 wt% in the batchform melted and cooled in the laboratory, measured as a sample | A small laboratory glass from a 2006 study, not a SCHOTT product. The same paper gives 6.22 g/cm3 for standard lead glass (Hubbell 1982). |
| 19 | Lead oxide content of special lead glass sample (1) in the batch | Weight ratio of lead oxide in sample (1), as printed in Table 1 (Lead Oxide row, 28%) | composition sample (1), seven-oxide special lead glassbasis weight ratio of lead oxide in the batch, not measured in the finished glass | Batch weight ratio of a laboratory glass. It is below the at least 65% lead oxide that SCHOTT gives for RD 50. |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Water and humidity (hydrolytic attack, DIN ISO 719 test) | low | SCHOTT lists a hydrolytic class of HGB 1 for RD 50 and HGB 3 for RD 30.1 |
| Ionising radiation (browning, or discoloration, of the glass) | moderate | SCHOTT gives a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy or more for two RS glasses, and says cerium oxide doping prevents browning.2 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water and humidity (hydrolytic attack, DIN ISO 719 test) | The technical data for both RD glasses give a hydrolytic class under DIN ISO 719 (RD 50 HGB 1, RD 30 HGB 3). The page gives no corrosion rate, test duration or the meaning of the class in detail, so the result is not quantified here. | products RD 50 and RD 30test DIN ISO 719 hydrolytic class, as printed |
| 2 | Ionising radiation (browning, or discoloration, of the glass) | The application-limit table lists a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. The page says these two glasses are doped with cerium dioxide, which prevents solarization (browning) from high-energy ionization. The table gives no discoloration limit for RS 253, RS 360 or RS 520. | products RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19exposure total dose in Gynote on superscripts the page flattens superscripts; read 1 × 108 as 1 × 10^8 Gy |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The glass itself has no GHS classification found in this run. The lead oxide used to make it is classified as hazardous.
- The lead oxide
- The Trace Sciences SDS for lead(II) oxide lists the signal word Danger with H360 (may damage fertility or the unborn child), H372 (organ damage through repeated exposure), H351 (suspected cancer hazard) and H410 (very toxic to aquatic life). That SDS is for the powder.
- Dust
- The lead oxide SDS asks users to avoid breathing dust, fume or gas, and to collect spillage.
In use
These are the protection and handling limits printed by SCHOTT for its shielding glasses.
- Browning at high dose
- SCHOTT lists discoloration limits of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. Cerium oxide doping is said to prevent browning in these two glasses.
- Induced discharge
- For RS 253, RS 360 and RS 520 the table gives a total-dose limit for induced discharge of 1 × 10^3 Gy.
Handling and storage
- Storage
- The PbO safety data sheet asks for the container to be stored locked up and for waste to go to an approved disposal plant.
- Glass properties
- SCHOTT describes RD 30 as scratch-resistant, non-flammable and easier to clean than acrylic.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Induced discharge in RS glasses above a total dose thresholdmoderate severity | Total radiation dose of 1 × 10^3 Gy for RS 253, RS 360 and RS 520 (the table's discharge limit)SCHOTT's application-limit table lists this total-dose limit for induced discharge. The page does not describe the mechanism. The superscripts are flattened on the page and read as 1 × 10^3 Gy. |
| Browning (discoloration) of RS glasses at very high total doselow severity | Total dose at or above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19The table lists a discoloration limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. Cerium oxide doping is said to prevent the browning. Discoloration in other RS glasses is not limited by a figure on the page. |
Side effects on surrounding parts
| Affects | Effect |
|---|---|
| People in the room and the disposal stream | Lead glass that is broken or ground to powder releases lead-containing particles. The PbO SDS asks users to avoid breathing dust and to collect spillage. No glass-specific exposure limit was read in this run. |
Handling and storage
- SCHOTT describes RD 30 as scratch-resistant, non-flammable and easier to clean than acrylic.
- The PbO SDS asks for the container to be stored locked up and waste to go to an approved disposal plant.
Mitigations
- Cerium oxide doping (RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19) is said to prevent browning from high-energy ionization.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Lead
Not read in this run (no crustal abundance figure opened for lead).
- Top producers (2025)
- China 42.2%, Australia 10.7%, Peru 6.4%, Russia 5.8%, Mexico 4.4%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed, EU: not listed
- Recycling
- USGS: in 2025 an estimated 1 million tons of secondary lead was produced, equal to 70% of apparent US consumption, nearly all recovered from old scrap, mostly lead-acid batteries.
- Substitutes
- USGS: the electronics industry has moved toward flat-panel displays that do not require lead shielding; steel and zinc are common substitutes for lead in wheel weights (no substitute for lead glass is named).
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: lead-glass
spore_version: 0.2
family: glass-and-composites
name: Lead glass
abbreviation: Lead glass
role: transparent radiation-shielding glass
category: shielding
type: spot-shields
summary: |
Lead glass is a transparent glass in which lead oxide is a major ingredient. NIST's assumed composition for "Glass, Lead" is 75.19% lead by weight, with a density of 6.220 g/cm3 (nominal). SCHOTT's RD 50 shielding glass has a minimum density of 5.05 g/cm3 and at least 65% lead oxide, and a 5.0 mm sheet transmits 85% of visible light, per SCHOTT's technical data.
best_for: Transparent X-ray and gamma shielding for windows and viewing panels, such as CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment
weakest_at: Heavy (RS 520 has a minimum density of 5.18 g/cm3), contains lead, and no flight or space use was found in this run
identity:
formula: 'Lead-rich oxide glass. NIST''s assumed composition for Glass, Lead (by weight): Pb 0.751938, O 0.156453, Si 0.080866, Ti 0.008092, As 0.002651'
source: nist-table2
where: 'NIST Table 2, row Glass, Lead, composition column (Z: fraction by weight, 82: 0.751938). The composition is an assumed example for NIST''s attenuation tables; SCHOTT''s products are defined by the manufacturer and their lead oxide contents are given as minimums.'
tags:
environments: []
stresses:
- total-radiation-dose
applications:
- radiation-shielding
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density of NIST's assumed lead glass composition
value: 6.22
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
composition: NIST assumed mass fractions Pb 0.751938, O 0.156453, Si 0.080866, Ti 0.008092, As 0.002651
note_on_value: nominal value; NIST says some density values are only nominal
method: Density column of NIST Table 2, printed as 6.220E+00 g/cm3
status: ground
note: A single assumed composition used for X-ray attenuation calculations, not a measured value for any SCHOTT or other product.
source: nist-table2
where: Table 2, row Glass, Lead, Density (g/cm3) column
- benchmark: density
label: Minimum density of RD 50 radiation shielding glass
value: 5.05
bound: lower
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 50
condition: as-delivered condition
method: Technical data table, printed as "≥ 5.05" density in g/cm3
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 50 technical data table, density row
- benchmark: density
label: Minimum density of RD 30 radiation shielding glass
value: 3.13
bound: lower
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 30
condition: as-delivered condition
method: Technical data table, printed as "≥ 3.13" density in g/cm3
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 30 technical data table, density row
- benchmark: density
label: Minimum density of RS 520 radiation shielding glass
value: 5.18
bound: lower
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
product: RS 520, nuclear series
note_on_value: labelled Minimum density
method: General characteristics table, printed as minimum density in g/cm3
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Characteristics of Radiation Shielding Glasses table, Minimum density row, RS 520 column
- benchmark: lead_oxide_content
label: Lead oxide content of RD 50
value: 65
bound: lower
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 50
basis: as printed (no basis stated)
method: Technical data table, printed as "≥ 65%" lead oxide content (PbO)
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 50 technical data table, Lead oxide content (PbO) row
- benchmark: lead_oxide_content
label: Lead oxide content of RD 30
value: 22
bound: lower
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 30
basis: as printed (no basis stated)
method: Technical data table, printed as "≥ 22%" lead oxide content (PbO)
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 30 technical data table, Lead oxide content (PbO) row
- benchmark: lead_oxide_content
label: Lead oxide content of RS 520 (synthesis composition)
value: 71
unit: wt%
scope: material
conditions:
product: RS 520
basis: PbO weight-% of the synthesis composition, not of the finished glass
method: Characteristics of Radiation Shielding Glasses table, PbO content in weight-% from synthesis
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Characteristics of Radiation Shielding Glasses table, PbO content row, RS 520 column
- benchmark: refractive_index
value: 1.79
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 50
temperature: 20 °C
wavelength: nD (sodium d-line, as the page labels it)
method: Technical data table, printed as refractive index nD at 20 °C
status: ground
note: This is the RD 50 figure. The same SCHOTT page gives nd 1.81 for RS 520, which is a different product and is not used as a lead glass value here.
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 50 technical data table, Refractive index row
- benchmark: light_transmittance
label: Light transmittance of RD 50 at 5.0 mm
value: 85
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 50
thickness: 5.0 mm
method: Technical data table, printed as light transmittance (d = 5.0 mm)
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 50 technical data table, Light transmittance row
- benchmark: light_transmittance
label: Light transmittance of RD 30 at 6.0 mm
value: 90.5
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 30
thickness: 6.0 mm
method: Technical data table, printed as light transmittance (d = 6.0 mm)
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data for RD 30 technical data table, Light transmittance row
- benchmark: lead_equivalent
label: Lead equivalent of RD 50 at 80 kV
value: 1.5
unit: mm Pb
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 50
glass_thickness: 5.0 to 7.0 mm (minimum to maximum thickness of the range)
tube_voltage: 80 kV
method: Lead-equivalent table for X-ray quality, printed in mm Pb
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: RD 50 lead-equivalents table for X-ray quality, row 5.0 to 7.0 mm, 80 kV column
- benchmark: lead_equivalent
label: Lead equivalent of RD 30 at 6.0 mm
value: 0.5
bound: lower
unit: mm Pb
scope: material
conditions:
product: RD 30
glass_thickness: 6.0 plus or minus 0.25 mm
tube_voltage: 80 kV
method: Lead-equivalent table, printed as "≥ 0.5" in mm Pb (the same value is printed for 50 to 150 kV)
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: RD 30 lead-equivalents table, row 6.0 plus or minus 0.25 mm, 80 kV column
- benchmark: linear_attenuation_coefficient
label: Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.2 MeV
value: 3.54
unit: cm-1
scope: material
conditions:
product: RS 520
energy: 0.2 MeV
method: Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Linear attenuation coefficients table, E = 0.2 MeV row, RS 520 column
- benchmark: linear_attenuation_coefficient
label: Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 0.662 MeV (137Cs line)
value: 0.5
unit: cm-1
scope: material
conditions:
product: RS 520
energy: 0.662 MeV (137Cs)
method: Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Linear attenuation coefficients table, E = 0.662 MeV (137Cs) row, RS 520 column
- benchmark: linear_attenuation_coefficient
label: Linear attenuation coefficient of RS 520 at 1.25 MeV (60Co line)
value: 0.3
unit: cm-1
scope: material
conditions:
product: RS 520
energy: 1.25 MeV (60Co)
method: Linear attenuation coefficients table, printed in cm-1
status: ground
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Linear attenuation coefficients table, E = 1.25 MeV (60Co) row, RS 520 column
- benchmark: mass_attenuation_coefficient
label: Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at 0.1 MeV
value: 4.216
unit: cm2/g
scope: material
conditions:
composition: NIST assumed Glass, Lead composition
photon_energy: 0.1 MeV
method: Mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) printed in the NIST table for Glass, Lead
status: ground
source: nist-glass-lead
where: Table for Glass, Lead, row 1.00000E-01 MeV, mu/rho column
- benchmark: mass_attenuation_coefficient
label: Mass attenuation coefficient of lead glass at the lead K absorption edge
value: 5.824
unit: cm2/g
scope: material
conditions:
composition: NIST assumed Glass, Lead composition
photon_energy: 0.0880045 MeV (lead K absorption edge, as printed)
method: Mass attenuation coefficient (mu/rho) printed in the NIST table for Glass, Lead, printed as 5.824E+00
status: ground
source: nist-glass-lead
where: Table for Glass, Lead, row 8.80045E-02 MeV (82 K), mu/rho column
- benchmark: density
label: Density of a laboratory special lead glass (sample 1, seven oxides)
value: 2.73
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
composition: sample (1) of Table 1, seven oxides with lead oxide 28 wt% in the batch
form: melted and cooled in the laboratory, measured as a sample
method: Density of special lead glass as printed in the text, calculated by weighing the sample and measuring its volume
status: ground
note: A small laboratory glass from a 2006 study, not a SCHOTT product. The same paper gives 6.22 g/cm3 for standard lead glass (Hubbell 1982).
source: mosul-fathi-2006
where: Experimental methods section, paragraph on density (sentence beginning The density of special lead glass is)
- benchmark: lead_oxide_content
label: Lead oxide content of special lead glass sample (1) in the batch
value: 28
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
composition: sample (1), seven-oxide special lead glass
basis: weight ratio of lead oxide in the batch, not measured in the finished glass
method: Weight ratio of lead oxide in sample (1), as printed in Table 1 (Lead Oxide row, 28%)
status: ground
note: Batch weight ratio of a laboratory glass. It is below the at least 65% lead oxide that SCHOTT gives for RD 50.
source: mosul-fathi-2006
where: Table 1, Lead Oxide row, sample (1) column
corrosion:
- environment: Water and humidity (hydrolytic attack, DIN ISO 719 test)
headline: SCHOTT lists a hydrolytic class of HGB 1 for RD 50 and HGB 3 for RD 30.
effect: The technical data for both RD glasses give a hydrolytic class under DIN ISO 719 (RD 50 HGB 1, RD 30 HGB 3). The page gives no corrosion rate, test duration or the meaning of the class in detail, so the result is not quantified here.
rating: low
conditions:
products: RD 50 and RD 30
test: DIN ISO 719 hydrolytic class, as printed
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Technical data tables for RD 30 and RD 50, Hydrolytic class row
- environment: Ionising radiation (browning, or discoloration, of the glass)
headline: SCHOTT gives a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy or more for two RS glasses, and says cerium oxide doping prevents browning.
effect: The application-limit table lists a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. The page says these two glasses are doped with cerium dioxide, which prevents solarization (browning) from high-energy ionization. The table gives no discoloration limit for RS 253, RS 360 or RS 520.
rating: moderate
conditions:
products: RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19
exposure: total dose in Gy
note_on_superscripts: the page flattens superscripts; read 1 × 108 as 1 × 10^8 Gy
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Application limits table, discoloration row; Use, Radiation Resistance and Solarization section
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'Trace Sciences SDS for lead(II) oxide (CAS 1317-36-8, PbO), the lead-oxide raw material of lead glass: signal word Danger; H302 + H332, H351, H360, H362, H372 (central nervous system, kidney, blood), H400 and H410. The SDS is for the powder, not for finished glass, and no GHS classification of the finished glass was found.'
ghs:
- H302
- H332
- H351
- H360
- H362
- H372
- H400
- H410
source: trace-pbo-sds
where: Section 2.1 GHS classification and Section 2.2 hazard statements
- text: 'The same SDS gives precautions for the powder: avoid breathing dust or fume (P260), store locked up (P405), avoid release to the environment (P273) and dispose of contents at an approved plant (P501).'
ghs: []
source: trace-pbo-sds
where: Section 2.2 precautionary statements
failure_risks:
- mode: Induced discharge in RS glasses above a total dose threshold
trigger: Total radiation dose of 1 × 10^3 Gy for RS 253, RS 360 and RS 520 (the table's discharge limit)
consequence: SCHOTT's application-limit table lists this total-dose limit for induced discharge. The page does not describe the mechanism. The superscripts are flattened on the page and read as 1 × 10^3 Gy.
severity: moderate
source: schott-rs-rd
where: 'Application limits table, discharge row (footnote: discharge threshold, induced discharge)'
- mode: Browning (discoloration) of RS glasses at very high total dose
trigger: Total dose at or above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19
consequence: The table lists a discoloration limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. Cerium oxide doping is said to prevent the browning. Discoloration in other RS glasses is not limited by a figure on the page.
severity: low
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Application limits table, discoloration row; Use, Radiation Resistance and Solarization section
side_effects:
- text: Lead glass that is broken or ground to powder releases lead-containing particles. The PbO SDS asks users to avoid breathing dust and to collect spillage. No glass-specific exposure limit was read in this run.
affects: People in the room and the disposal stream
source: trace-pbo-sds
where: Section 2.2 (P260, P391) and Section 7
handling:
- text: SCHOTT describes RD 30 as scratch-resistant, non-flammable and easier to clean than acrylic.
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Use section, RD 30 paragraph
- text: The PbO SDS asks for the container to be stored locked up and waste to go to an approved disposal plant.
source: trace-pbo-sds
where: Section 2.2 (P405, P501)
mitigations:
- text: Cerium oxide doping (RS 253 G18 and RS 323 G19) is said to prevent browning from high-energy ionization.
source: schott-rs-rd
where: Use, Radiation Resistance and Solarization section; RS table composition rows
uses:
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Viewing windows, doors and panoramic glazing at CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment (RD 50)
example: SCHOTT says RD 50 is supplied as stock sheets or custom panels with boreholes and cut-outs, and is suited to PET and CT scan facilities and to windows, doors and panoramic glazing for analytical equipment.
source: schott-variants
where: Product variants page, RD 50 use description
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Mammography shielding panels (RD 30)
example: SCHOTT says RD 30 is developed for analogue and digital mammography, is available in large sizes and can be bent or moulded.
source: schott-variants
where: Product variants page, RD 30 use description
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Shielding window frames for nuclear energy and nuclear waste facilities (RS series)
example: SCHOTT says the RS glasses were developed for nuclear energy production and nuclear waste treatment, and are supplied as finished blocks, plates or custom castings for shielding window frames.
source: schott-variants
where: Product variants page, RS series note
supply:
- subject: Lead
abundance: Not read in this run (no crustal abundance figure opened for lead).
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 42.2
year: 2025
- country: Australia
share_percent: 10.7
year: 2025
- country: Peru
share_percent: 6.4
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.8
year: 2025
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 4.4
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals (lead added in the final 2025 list)
listed: true
- list: EU critical raw materials list (not read in this run)
listed: false
recycling: 'USGS: in 2025 an estimated 1 million tons of secondary lead was produced, equal to 70% of apparent US consumption, nearly all recovered from old scrap, mostly lead-acid batteries.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: the electronics industry has moved toward flat-panel displays that do not require lead shielding; steel and zinc are common substitutes for lead in wheel weights (no substitute for lead glass is named).'
source: usgs-mcs2026-lead
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column (world total 4,500 thousand t, rounded; shares calculated by Space Mushroom against that total); Final 2025 critical list note in the introduction; Recycling; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lead'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-lead.pdf
year: 2026
- title: Trace Sciences Lead(II) oxide safety data sheet (CAS 1317-36-8)
type: sds
url: https://tracesciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/LeadII-oxide-SDS.pdf
year: 2025
- title: 'NIST X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients: Glass, Lead'
type: database
url: https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/XrayMassCoef/ComTab/glass.html
year: 2026
- title: NIST X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients, Table 2 material constants
type: database
url: https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/XrayMassCoef/tab2.html
year: 2026
- title: SCHOTT Technical details of radiation shielding glasses
type: datasheet
url: https://www.schott.com/en-gb/products/radiation-shielding-glasses/technical-details
year: 2026
- title: SCHOTT Product variants of radiation shielding glasses
type: datasheet
url: https://www.schott.com/en-gb/products/radiation-shielding-glasses/product-variants
year: 2026
- title: Fathi, F. M., 2006. Mass Attenuation of Gamma Photons in Special Lead Glass that Can be Used in Radiation Shielding Windows
type: paper
url: https://jamh.uomosul.edu.iq/index.php/rsci/article/download/47397/47135/47440
year: 2006
gaps:
- No flight, vacuum, thermal-vacuum or space-radiation result for lead glass was found in this run; no space application was read.
- No crustal abundance figure for lead was opened in this run.
- The EU critical raw materials status of lead was not checked in this run.
- The NIST table has about 200 rows; only the energies listed in properties were read. The 0.662 MeV row is not printed (the nearest printed row, 0.6 MeV, is not used).
- The RS Pb-equivalent values for RS 253 to RS 520 are printed without a unit, so they are left out.
- The official current SCHOTT RS datasheet PDF was not opened (the search results point to 2013 flyers and regional pages with different figures); the values here come from the SCHOTT technical-details and product-variants pages only.
- A regional search snippet gave a different RS 520 refractive index from the technical-details page. That page was not opened, so the difference is not resolved.
- The NIST composition is an assumed example for X-ray tables, not a product specification, and it is not reconciled with SCHOTT's lead oxide contents, which are given as minimums and as synthesis figures.
- Chemical resistance to acids and alkalis, and ageing under heat, humidity or UV for finished lead glass, were not found in any source opened in this run.
- No service-temperature or transformation-temperature value for a lead glass product was read in this run.
- No GHS classification for finished lead glass was found; PubChem was not reachable (automated browser check), so the PbO SDS is the only hazard source.
- Manufacturing process (melting and casting of lead glass) was not read in a source in this run.
- Mass attenuation coefficients are for NIST's assumed composition only; no product-specific attenuation table at matching energies was found for RD 30 or RD 50.
- The meaning of the DIN ISO 719 hydrolytic classes (HGB 1 and HGB 3) was not read in full.
sources:
nist-glass-lead:
title: 'X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients: Glass, Lead (NIST)'
id: NIST XCOM, Glass, Lead (ComTab/glass.html)
url: https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/XrayMassCoef/ComTab/glass.html
year: 2026
kind: database
license: public domain (NIST)
nist-table2:
title: 'X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients, Table 2: Material constants and composition assumed in the present evaluations'
id: NIST, Table 2 (tab2.html)
url: https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/XrayMassCoef/tab2.html
year: 2026
kind: database
license: public domain (NIST)
schott-rs-rd:
title: SCHOTT Technical Details of Radiation Shielding Glasses (RD 30, RD 50 and RS series)
id: SCHOTT AG, radiation shielding glasses, technical details page
url: https://www.schott.com/en-gb/products/radiation-shielding-glasses/technical-details
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, cited not reproduced
schott-variants:
title: SCHOTT Product Variants of Radiation Shielding Glasses
id: SCHOTT AG, radiation shielding glasses, product variants page
url: https://www.schott.com/en-gb/products/radiation-shielding-glasses/product-variants
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, cited not reproduced
usgs-mcs2026-lead:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lead'
id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-lead.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
trace-pbo-sds:
title: 'Safety Data Sheet: Lead(II) oxide (Trace Sciences International)'
id: CAS 1317-36-8; EC 215-267-0
url: https://tracesciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/LeadII-oxide-SDS.pdf
year: 2025
kind: datasheet
license: supplier document, linked not reproduced
wikipedia-lead-glass:
title: Lead glass (Wikipedia)
id: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_glass
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_glass
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)
mosul-fathi-2006:
title: Mass Attenuation of Gamma Photons in Special Lead Glass that Can be Used in Radiation Shielding Windows
id: Raf. Jour. Sci., Vol. 17, No. 2 (Physics, Special Issue), pp. 6-12, 2006
url: https://jamh.uomosul.edu.iq/index.php/rsci/article/download/47397/47135/47440
year: 2006
kind: paper
license: journal PDF, cited not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 19
unreachable: 1
caveats: 3
note: 'Drafted by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from pages fetched in this run: NIST attenuation and composition tables, SCHOTT technical and product pages, USGS 2026 lead chapter and a PbO safety data sheet. PubChem was not reachable.'
story:
recipe:
line: Lead glass is a glass in which lead oxide, PbO, is a major ingredient; in ordinary glass the same position is held by calcium. NIST's assumed composition for Glass, Lead is 75.19% lead by weight, with oxygen, silicon, titanium and arsenic making up the rest.
parts:
- name: Lead
symbol: Pb
mass_fraction: 0.751938
role: Carries most of the mass of the glass, which gives it high density and strong absorption of X-rays and gamma rays.
- name: Oxygen
symbol: O
mass_fraction: 0.156453
role: Bonds to lead and silicon to form the glass network.
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
mass_fraction: 0.080866
role: Forms the silica network that holds the glass together.
- name: Titanium
symbol: Ti
mass_fraction: 0.008092
role: Minor constituent in NIST's assumed composition; its role is not described in the sources read.
- name: Arsenic
symbol: As
mass_fraction: 0.002651
role: Minor constituent in NIST's assumed composition; its role is not described in the sources read.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Hazard is in the lead oxide, not the glass sheet
lead: The glass itself has no GHS classification found in this run. The lead oxide used to make it is classified as hazardous.
points:
- label: The lead oxide
line: The Trace Sciences SDS for lead(II) oxide lists the signal word Danger with H360 (may damage fertility or the unborn child), H372 (organ damage through repeated exposure), H351 (suspected cancer hazard) and H410 (very toxic to aquatic life). That SDS is for the powder.
- label: Dust
line: The lead oxide SDS asks users to avoid breathing dust, fume or gas, and to collect spillage.
- title: In use
lead: These are the protection and handling limits printed by SCHOTT for its shielding glasses.
points:
- label: Browning at high dose
line: SCHOTT lists discoloration limits of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19. Cerium oxide doping is said to prevent browning in these two glasses.
- label: Induced discharge
line: For RS 253, RS 360 and RS 520 the table gives a total-dose limit for induced discharge of 1 × 10^3 Gy.
- title: Handling and storage
points:
- label: Storage
line: The PbO safety data sheet asks for the container to be stored locked up and for waste to go to an approved disposal plant.
- label: Glass properties
line: SCHOTT describes RD 30 as scratch-resistant, non-flammable and easier to clean than acrylic.
why: 'Lead glass is a transparent material for shielding X-rays and gamma rays where a window or viewing panel is needed. NIST''s assumed lead glass has a density of 6.220 g/cm3 and 75.19% lead by weight. SCHOTT''s RD 50 has a minimum density of 5.05 g/cm3 and at least 65% lead oxide, and transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm. The sources read here show the same trade: more lead gives more shielding and more density, and RD 50 keeps a view through the glass.'
uses:
- where: CT and PET facilities and analytical equipment (RD 50)
line: SCHOTT says RD 50 is supplied as stock sheets or custom panels with boreholes and cut-outs. It is suited to PET and CT scan facilities and to windows, doors and panoramic glazing for analytical equipment.
- where: Mammography (RD 30)
line: SCHOTT says RD 30 is developed for analogue and digital mammography, is available in large sizes, and can be bent or moulded.
- where: Nuclear energy and nuclear waste facilities (RS series)
line: SCHOTT says the RS glasses were developed for nuclear energy production and nuclear waste treatment, and are supplied as finished blocks, plates or custom castings for shielding window frames.
can_do:
- label: Visible light
benchmark: light_transmittance
value: 85 %
line: RD 50 transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm thickness, and RD 30 transmits 90.5% at 6.0 mm, both per SCHOTT's technical data.
- label: Lead equivalent at 80 kV
benchmark: lead_equivalent
value: 1.5 mm Pb
line: RD 50 in a 5.0 to 7.0 mm thick sheet gives 1.5 mm Pb equivalence at 80 kV. RD 30 at 6.0 mm gives at least 0.5 mm Pb at 80 kV, per SCHOTT's lead-equivalent tables.
- label: Gamma attenuation
benchmark: linear_attenuation_coefficient
value: 0.3 cm-1
line: RS 520 has a linear attenuation coefficient of 0.3 cm-1 at 1.25 MeV (the 60Co line), 0.5 cm-1 at 0.662 MeV (137Cs) and 3.54 cm-1 at 0.2 MeV, per SCHOTT's table.
- label: Density
benchmark: density
value: 5.05 g/cm3
line: The RD 50 minimum density is 5.05 g/cm3 and the RS 520 minimum density is 5.18 g/cm3, both as printed by SCHOTT.
compare: Lead glass is heavier than ordinary soda-lime glass, which Wikipedia describes as having a lower density. Among the SCHOTT products read here, RS 520 has the highest lead oxide content (71 wt% by synthesis) and the highest minimum density (5.18 g/cm3), and its linear attenuation at 1.25 MeV is 0.3 cm-1. RD 50 has a lower lead oxide content (at least 65%) and minimum density (5.05 g/cm3), and transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm. RD 30 has the lowest minimum density in this group (at least 3.13 g/cm3) and is the product SCHOTT aims at mammography.
compare_rows:
- label: Minimum density
benchmark: density
- label: Lead oxide content
benchmark: lead_oxide_content
- label: Visible light transmittance
benchmark: light_transmittance
handling:
- The lead oxide powder is hazardous; the finished glass has no GHS classification found in this run. Keep dust down and collect broken pieces.
- Store the lead oxide locked up. Dispose of waste at an approved plant.
- For RS glasses, the application-limit table gives a discoloration total-dose limit of 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 253 G18 and above 1 × 10^8 Gy for RS 323 G19, and no figure for RS 360 or RS 520.
- RD 30 is scratch-resistant and easier to clean than acrylic, according to SCHOTT.
good_for:
- Viewing windows in CT, PET and analytical facilities, where both shielding and a view through the glass are needed. RD 50 transmits 85% of visible light at 5.0 mm.
- Mammography panels, where SCHOTT gives a lead equivalent of at least 0.5 mm Pb at 6.0 mm for RD 30.
- Nuclear window frames with high total-dose tolerance, where the RS series is supplied as blocks, plates or castings.
watch_out:
- The lead oxide powder is hazardous. The finished glass was not classified in any source read.
- 'Lead glass is dense: RS 520 has a minimum density of 5.18 g/cm3, and RD 50 has a minimum of 5.05 g/cm3.'
- Browning and induced discharge in RS glasses appear above fixed total-dose limits printed by SCHOTT. The table does not give a limit for every RS glass.
- No flight or space use was found in this run.
verdict: The sources read support lead glass for transparent X-ray and gamma shielding in fixed installations such as CT, PET, analytical equipment and nuclear windows. The SCHOTT figures show the trade between lead content, density and visible transmission, and no space qualification was found.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients: Glass, Lead (NIST) | database | 2026 | 2 values | |
| X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients, Table 2: Material constants and composition assumed in the present evaluations | database | 2026 | 2 values | |
| SCHOTT Technical Details of Radiation Shielding Glasses (RD 30, RD 50 and RS series) | datasheet | 2026 | 20 values | |
| SCHOTT Product Variants of Radiation Shielding Glasses | datasheet | 2026 | 3 values | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lead | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Safety Data Sheet: Lead(II) oxide (Trace Sciences International) | datasheet | 2025 | 4 values | |
| Lead glass (Wikipedia) | web | 2026 | 0 values | |
| Mass Attenuation of Gamma Photons in Special Lead Glass that Can be Used in Radiation Shielding Windows | paper | 2006 | 2 values |
Updated