Q: I’m looking for a radiopaque material for an xray application. I’ve tried lead but need something that is more intense that could be made into a screw. Is there a material you can suggest?

A: Tungsten screws are excellent for radiopaque x-ray applications. Tungsten offers a higher density than lead at 19.3 gm/cc and therefore shows up better on x-rays than lead. Depending on what your application requires, you may also consider tantalum fasteners, as tantalum has a density of 16.7gm/cc.