Chapter 7: Non-destructive Testing

Reference procedure

Measurement of the Optical Density of X-ray Films

Key words
optical density, film step tablet, X-ray film with graded optical densities

Quantities and items tested

Optical density, film step tablet, radiographs

Testing range
0,2 up to 4,8

Uncertainty of results
from 0,01 to 0,05

Fields of application
Verification and calibration of densitometers for measurement of the optical density on radiographs (X-ray films) in industrial radiographic testing

Methodology and instrumentation

Traceable measurement of densities of X-ray films with a calibrated densitometer according to ISO 5-3 (diffuse optical transmission density)

Qualification and quality assurance

Traceability to a reference standard of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) respectively a calibrated step tablet of the Physikalisch -Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). The densitometer is checked and calibrated periodically by the above mentioned reference standards.

Contact: E-mail:

Dr. Uwe Zscherpel uwe.zscherpel@bam.de

Phone: Fax:

+49 30 8104 3677 +49 30 8104 1837 back to Catalogue of Reference Procedures

Division 8.3: Radiological Methods

Date: Dec. 2012

1(2)

704en.pdf

Reference procedure

Chapter 7: Non-destructive Testing

Further information
Flaws in technical installations or devices can be detected by differences in optical density of X-ray films/ radiographs. It is therefore important that the optical density is defined and traceable to standards. The optical density is measured by transmission of light through the film. The optical density is defined by:

D lg

L0 LF

D = diffuse optical density Lo = Luminance in cd/m2 (on the side of the light source before the film, diffuse) LF = Luminance in cd/m2 (on the side of the observer, behind the film, specular) The optical densities measured with a densitometer are traced back onto a NIST-standard respectively a density step tablet calibrated by the PTB. The density step tablets measured with the reference method Measurement of the optical density are used in industrial radiography to check the densitometers and therefore for the quality assurance of the exposed x-ray films, i.e. for a proof of the achieved density. The measured density step tablets have to be recalibrated in certain intervals depending on national directives (remeasurement of the optical density). The measurement results are summarized in a certificate.

Example for a measured density step tablet with certificate:

Date: Dec. 2012

2(2)

704en.pdf