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An elastic, radiation shielding material that can be severed readily with conventional tools, such as scissors and is sufficiently flexible so as to allow wrapping it around piping and tubing. The radiation shielding material comprises a rubber component and a radiation attenuating metal in amounts

An elastic, radiation shielding material that can be severed readily with conventional tools, such as scissors and is sufficiently flexible so as to allow wrapping it around piping and tubing. The radiation shielding material comprises a rubber component and a radiation attenuating metal in amounts effective to obtain a desired balance of flexibility and radiation attenuation, respectively. By varying the amount of rubber and metal in the material a desired level of flexibility and radiation attenuation may be obtained.

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What is claimed is: 1. A radiation shielding material comprising: an effective amount of silicone rubber; an effective amount of a metal having radiation attenuating characteristics; wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics comprises particles, wherein at least 60% of said pa

What is claimed is: 1. A radiation shielding material comprising: an effective amount of silicone rubber; an effective amount of a metal having radiation attenuating characteristics; wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics comprises particles, wherein at least 60% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers and wherein the average particle size is in the range of about 0.4 micrometers to about 45 micrometers; and wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 50 according to ASTM D2240. 2. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein at least 75% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers. 3. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein at least about 99% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers. 4. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein at least about 60% of said particles have diameters of between about 1 and about 5 micrometers. 5. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, bismuth, and stainless steel. 6. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said silicone rubber includes one or more methyl, vinyl, phenyl, or trifluoropropyl side or pendant groups along the Si--O polymer chain. 7. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said silicone rubber comprises dimethyl silicone rubber, phenyl methyl silicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, polyvinylsilicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or polydimethylsilicone based elastomer. 8. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing filler and processing aids. 9. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten or bismuth. 10. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten. 11. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein the shielding material comprises from about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight of the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics, based on the total weight of the material, and from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight of the silicone rubber, based on the total weight of the material. 12. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, further comprising heat and corrosion resistant metals. 13. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, which comprises about 70 to about 90 percent by weight of the metal, based on the total weight of the material, and about 10 to about 30 percent by weight of the silicone rubber, based on the total weight of the material. 14. The radiation shielding material of claim 1 wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics and the radiation shielding material are sufficiently heat resistant to withstand temperatures from about 220째 F. to about 400째 F. 15. The radiation shielding material of claim 1 which provides attenuation at an energy level of about 1,173 kV to about 1,332 kV. 16. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein the radiation shielding material is in the form of a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.1 inches. 17. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 200 to about 800 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 40 to 140 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 18. The radiation shielding material of claim 17, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 400 to about 600 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 75 to 105 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 19. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 60 according to ASTM D2240. 20. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said radiation shielding material includes fabric material securely attached to at least one side of the radiation shielding material. 21. The radiation shielding material of claim 20, wherein the fabric material comprises cotton fibers, synthetic fibers, fiberglass fibers, aramid fibers, or Kevlar fibers. 22. The radiation shielding material of claim 1, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 1.0 inches. 23. The radiation shielding material of claim 22, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 1.0 inches. 24. The radiation shielding material of claim 23, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches. 25. The radiation shielding material of claim 24, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.5 inches. 26. A method for shielding a radiation emitting area comprising: providing a radiation shielding material comprising: a silicone rubber and an effective amount of a metal having radiation attenuation characteristics; shielding the radiation emitting area with the radiation shielding material having an effective thickness sufficient for blocking a desired percentage of the radiation; wherein said metal having radiation attenuation characteristics comprises particles, wherein at least 60% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers and wherein the average particle size is in the range of about 0.4 micrometers to about 45 micrometers; and wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 50 according to ASTM D2240. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least 75% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least about 99% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein said metal having radiation attentuating characteristics comprises at least one of tungsten, bismuth, and stainless steel. 30. The method of claim 26, wherein said silicone rubber comprises dimethyl silicone rubber, phenyl methyl silicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, polyvinylsilicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or polydimethylsilicone based elastomer. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the radiation shielding material further comprises a reinforcing filler and processing aids. 32. The method of claim 26, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten or bismuth. 33. The method of claim 26, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten. 34. The method of claim 26, wherein the radiation shielding material comprises from about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight of the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics, based on the total weight of the radiation shielding material, and from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight of the silicone rubber based on the total weight of the radiation shielding material. 35. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 26, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 200 to about 800 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 40 to 140 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 36. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 35, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 400 to about 600 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 75 to 105 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 37. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 26, wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 60 according to ASTM D2240. 38. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 26, wherein said radiation shielding material includes fabric material securely attached to at least one side of the radiation shielding material. 39. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 38, wherein the fabric material comprises cotton fibers, synthetic fibers, fiberglass fibers, aramid fibers, or Kevlar fibers. 40. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 26, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 1.0 inches. 41. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 40, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 1.0inches. 42. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 41, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches. 43. The method for shielding a radiation emitting area of claim 42, wherein said radiation shielding material has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.5 inches. 44. A radiation shielding material comprising: an effective amount of a silicone elastomer; an effective amount of a metal having radiation attenuating characteristics wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics comprises particles, wherein at least 60% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers and wherein the average particle size is in the range of about 0.4 micrometers to about 45 micrometers; and wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 50 according to ASTM D2240. 45. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, bismuth, and stainless steel. 46. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said silicone elastomer includes one or more methyl, vinyl, phenyl, or trifluoropropyl side or pendant groups along the Si--O polymer chain. 47. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said silicone elastomer is a polydimethylsilicone based elastomer. 48. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said metal having radiation attenuating characteristics includes tungsten, bismuth, or stainless steel. 49. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, further comprising a reinforcing filler and processing aids. 50. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten or bismuth. 51. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics is tungsten. 52. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein the radiation shielding material comprises from about 65 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight of the metal having radiation attenuating characteristics, based on the total weight of the material, and from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight of the silicone elastomer, based on the total weight of the material. 53. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, further comprising heat and corrosion resistant metals. 54. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said silicone rubber comprises dimethyl silicone rubber, phenyl methyl silicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber, polyvinylsilicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, or polydimethylsilicone based elastomer. 55. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein the radiation shielding material is in the form of a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.1 inches. 56. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 200 to about 800 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 40 to 140 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 57. The radiation shielding material of claim 56, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 400 to about 600 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 75 to 105 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 58. The radiation shielding material of claim 44, wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 60 according to ASTM D2240. 59. A radiation shielding material comprising: an effective amount of rubber; an effective amount of a radiation attenuating metal; and wherein said radiation shielding material is in the form of a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.1 inches, and said radiation attenuating metal comprising particles of tungsten, wherein at least 60% of said tungsten particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers; and wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 50 according to ASTM D2240. 60. The radiation shielding material of claim 59, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 200 to about 800 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 40 to 140 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 61. The radiation shielding material of claim 60, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 400 to about 600 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 75 to 105 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 62. The radiation shielding material of claim 59, wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 60 according to ASTM D2240. 63. A radiation shielding material comprising: an effective amount of rubber; an effective amount of a radiation attenuating metal; and wherein said radiation shielding material is in the form of a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.1 inches, and said radiation attenuating metal comprising particles, wherein at least 60% of said particles have diameters of less than 100 micrometers and wherein said particles are dispersed within said rubber to form a substantially homogeneous radiation shielding material; and wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 50 according to ASTM D2240. 64. The radiation shielding material of claim 63, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 200 to about 800 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 40 to 140 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 65. The radiation shielding material of claim 64, wherein said radiation shielding material has a tensile strength of about 400 to about 600 lbs/in2 according to ASTM D412, and a tear strength of 75 to 105 lbs/in according to ASTM D624, die B. 66. The radiation shielding material of claim 63, wherein said radiation shielding material has a minimum Shore A durometer hardness of 60 according to ASTM D2240.