Industrial Radiography: comparison between traditional and digital method using X-ray

Abstract

Today, industrial radiography is one of the most used methods in the nondestructive control of different manufacturing processes of parts or industrial components. This is based on the interaction of high-energy electromagnetic waves (X-rays or gamma) with matter. This radiation of high penetrating power may originate from electrical equipment or a radioisotope, has the ability to pass through the material and leave an impression of the object studied. The great advantage of this method compared with others, lies in the possibility of leaving a permanent record or real image of the part or object analyzed, being able to observe any anomalies or discontinuity present and save the image allowing for further studies. The traditional technique of radiography involves the interaction of radiation with matter, obtaining a permanent image of the object being studied by exposing a radiographic film made of a polymeric material (acetate) coated with a photosensitive emulsion, subjecting later this film to a revealed process using special chemicals that make the captured image is visible to the inspector. Today has been replaced radiographic film by an electronic device called “cassette” which has the same function to capture the image of the object, but without pass through the chemical developing process and a substantial improvement in the definition of the final image obtained. It also presents the possibility of change the obtained image. In the present work we present a comparison between traditional and digital radiography which consists of a transmitter pulse X-ray and an electronic display, both techniques used to inspect various components and determine the advantages of using one or the other.