Editing Depleted uranium (section)

===Radiation shielding===
Depleted uranium is the best radiation shielding by weight, due to the high atomic weight of the uranium atoms; materials are more able to block radioactivity the higher their atomic weight, and uranium is one of the heaviest natural elements. [[Lead]], the heaviest stable element, is the most common low-cost alternative, but a lead shield needs to be about three times as thick as a DU shield to provide the equivalent protection. Uranium also has by far a higher melting point {{Convert|2070|F|C}}, and its tensile strength is similar to that of steel.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Vaziri |first=Kamran |title=Radiation Basics – Radiation Shielding |url=http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q8929.html |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Health Physics Society}}</ref>

[[Industrial radiography]] cameras include a very high activity [[gamma radiation]] source (typically [[Iridium-192#Iridium-192|Ir-192]] with an activity above 10 TBq). Depleted uranium is often used in the cameras as a shield to protect individuals from the gamma source. Typically, the uranium shield is supported and enclosed in [[polyurethane]] foam for thermal, mechanical and oxidation protection.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ir100.com/PROD01.html
 |title=The INC IR-100 Gamma Ray Camera
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930093916/http://www.ir100.com/PROD01.html
 |archive-date=30 September 2007
}}</ref>