T-Flex®
T-Flex® Shielding Overview
T-Flex shielding suspends high Z materials such as tungsten and bismuth in a polymer matrix to create radiation shielding that is non-toxic, flexible, and infinitely customizable. T-Flex was created to address some of the limitations and challenges of traditional lead shielding. The mixture of high Z material powder and polymer matrix provides both gamma and neutron attenuation. Since T-Flex is a liquid poured at room temperature, and subsequently solidified by curing, it can be made to virtually any shape and allows embedding of magnets, handles, or other specialty hardware. Its flexibility, non-toxic (no lead) composition, and surface finish allow it to be easily trimmed for field fitting and cleaned for decontamination. T-Flex can withstand higher temperatures than lead wool blankets. It is the best option for most industrial shielding applications.
NPO invented T-Flex over 20 years ago and manufactures it in our facility in Lisle, IL. It has since been deployed by dozens of Nuclear Power Plants, DOE facilities, and Naval Shipyards around the world.
T-Flex® Blankets
T-Flex® Blankets provide an effective flexible shielding solution for reducing radiological exposure in general work areas—without introducing new toxic materials into your facility. Made from advanced polymer-based shielding compounds, these blanket offer safe, reliable protection with the flexibility to meet a wide range of operational needs. The blankets are non-toxic for safe handling
and available in 11 standard color layers for project differentiation.
Custom printing is available for clear identification.
T-Flex® Ribbon Wrap
T‑Flex® Ribbon Wrap is a thin, flexible, high‑performance shielding solution made primarily
from T‑Flex® Bismuth. Designed for versatility and speed, it comes in 2”, 3”, or 4” widths and a standard 96” (2,438 mm) length, making it ideal for wrapping around hot spots and irregular surfaces with ease.
Durable T-Flex® Ribbon Wrap is highly flexible for wrapping complex geometries. Optional yellow layer is available for enhanced visibility. Also available in other T-Flex® material formulations.
T-Flex® Pipe Shields
T-Flex® Pipe Shields are designed to provide reliable radiological protection across a wide range of pipe sizes, from small-bore lines to large-diameter systems —offering superior performance compared to traditional lead blankets. Constructed from flexible, shape-retaining materials, the shields conform closely to complex pipe geometries such as elbows, tees, and
valves. This tight fit minimizes streaming gaps and ensures maximum coverage. They are lightweight, easy to install and maintain, and manufactured to meet specific weight requirements. T-Flex® Pipe Shields are an ideal solution for facilities that need adaptable, high -performance shielding that integrates seamlessly with existing piping infrastructure.
T-Flex® Floor Shielding
T-Flex® Floor Shielding tiles are designed with maximum industrial safety in mind. Available in many formulations, including Bismuth, Neutron, and Iron, these tiles deliver reliable shielding performance while supporting safe and efficient facility operations. This durable, slip-resistant tread shielding withstands heavy use in high-traffic environments and is fully customizable to specific facility layouts. Available in a variety of colors for visual management.
Magnetic T-Flex® Shielding
Magnetic T-Flex® Shielding is engineered for rapid deployment, requiring no tools or fasteners, and delivers reliable performance on tanks, piping, and structural steel in demanding radiological environments.
Built with embedded, high-strength magnets reinforced to prevent pull-out, the shielding maintains a secure hold on ferrous surfaces, including overhead applications. Designed for both flexibility and durability, Magnetic T-Flex® can be stacked in up to two layers for enhanced dose reduction and is available in both standard and fully customized sizes to meet specific project needs.
T-Flex® Laboratory Shielding
Safely and effectively store and transport radioactive samples with NPO’s laboratory shielding. NPO offers bottle shields for 60 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, and 1 L size bottles, single vial shields, and multi-vial transport cases with optional carrying handles.
To shield larger radioactive sources, consider exploring NPO’s designed collection of shielded lockers, cabinets, safes and long-term storage solutions.
Custom T-Flex® Solutions
Pipe and Valve Shielding
T-Flex® is the most versatile shielding material that NPO has to offer. Its ability to be poured as a liquid and cured as a flexible solid makes it ideal for fitting the maximum amount of shielding around a component while keeping space and weight to a minimum. The most common way this is put into practice it through pipe and valve shielding. NPO is able to conform the shielding snugly around a pipe and valve which brings the most shielding possible closest to the source while staying clear of any interferences in the immediate area. Below is a showcase of different pipe and valve shields NPO has made over the last few years.
Large Scale Pipe and Valve Shielding
The versatility of T-Flex® extends passed isolated valves, elbows, and short runs of piping. Some projects require extensive shielding across multiple pipe sizes and various valves and bends. The NPO engineering team uses a combination of plant drawings, laser scan data, picture references, and computer aided design software to create a completely custom, form fitting shielding package.
In plants like Perry and Davis-Besse, these huge installations have become permanent shielding and eliminated the need for blocking off high dose areas.
Mold Making Capabilities
The flexible nature of T-Flex® not only applies to the material itself, but it’s ability to take any shape needed for a given application. With use of computer aided design software, NPO can create virtually any shaped shield as a plant needs in order to fit around, cover, hold, or be inserted near whatever requires shielding.
Variety of Colors and Shapes
NPO can add a color layer to any tile. Different colors can help differentiate pieces in an assembly, act as a warning, or just make the shielding visually appealing.
Types of Shielding Applications
Custom Dry Cask T-Flex Shielding
As Dry Fuel Campaign preparation is ongoing at many sites, we would like to share a successful campaign story. In 2025, the NPO Team designed and fabricated custom Dry...
Millstone Hot Spot Shielding
In 2025, Millstone Power Station faced a persistent dose rate challenge at a 45° elbow hot spot, where dose rates exceeded 20 Rem/hr. The existing temporary solution shielding blankets...
Frisker Caves
NPO designs and manufactures a variety of frisker caves to reduce handheld Geiger Mueller (G-M) tube counters background radiation. The four featured designs range from heavy duty, maximum dose...
Browns Ferry 360-Inspection Platform
Browns Ferry needed durable and effective floor shielding for the trough of their 360 cavity inspection platform. Like with most floor shielding applications, T-Flex® Bismuth was chosen because of...
Radiography Shielding
Radiography is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that uses a radioactive source to detect flaws or defects in the internal structures, typically pipes. This testing process requires an “exclusion...
Custom Fit Meter Shielding
Some shielding applications require a precise fit in order to shield effectively. The meter of this instrument was a streaming source for the workers operating it. To fit the...
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