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In many ways, radiography has changed little from the early days of its use. We still capture a shadow image on film using similar procedures and processes technicians were using in the late 1800's. Today, however, we are able to generate images of higher quality and greater sensitivity through the use of higher quality films with a larger variety of film grain sizes. Film processing has evolved to an automated state, producing more consistent film quality by removing manual processing variables.
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Electronics and computers allow technicians to now capture images digitally. The use of "filmless radiography" provides a means of capturing an image, digitally enhancing, sending the image anywhere in the world, and archiving an image that will not deteriorate with time. Technological advances have provided industry with smaller, lighter, and very portable equipment that produce high quality X-rays. The use of linear accelerators provide a means of generating extremely short wavelength, highly penetrating radiation, a concept dreamed of only a few short years ago. While the process has changed little, technology has evolved allowing radiography to be widely used in numerous areas of inspection. Radiography has seen expanded usage in industry to inspect not only welds and castings, but to radiographically inspect items such as airbags and canned food products. Radiography has found use in metallurgical material identification and security systems at airports and other facilities.
Gamma ray inspection has also changed considerably since the Curies' discovery of radium. Man-made isotopes of today are far stronger and offer the technician a wide range of energy levels and half-lives. The technician can select Co-60 which will effectively penetrate very thick materials, or select a lower energy isotope, such as Tm-170, which can be used to inspect plastics and very thin or low density materials. Today gamma rays find wide application in industries such as petrochemical, casting, welding, and aerospace.
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(Corporate Partner of AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING(ASNT), Membership No: 193905)
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