title: Cadmium free lead alloy for reusable radiotherapy shielding.
abstract: A low melting point cadmium free fusible lead alloy suitable for custom radiotherapy shielding blocks is described. The alloy, referred to here as Alloy-203, differs in composition from the more common Lipowitz's metal (Cerrobend) by being cadmium free, having a slightly higher lead content and a 203 degrees F melting temperature. Attenuation properties have been studied for 4-18 MV X-rays. Alloy-203 has lower transmission than Lipowitz's metal, primarily due to the higher content of lead and bismuth. Daily use for the past 2 years at Mayo Clinic has not indicated any major problems associated with the use of this cadmium free alloy for custom shield fabrication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Amundson
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D002104:Cadmium; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead