Notebook #3 Revisions 13

Notebook #3

Single Emulsion Layers:

\) Supercoat= Layer of hard protective gelatin designed to prevent the soft emulsion
underneath from being physically or chemically abused by scratches, abrasions from
stacking and skin oils from handling. It is extremely strong and when combined with the
base material, it is nearly impossible to tear a radiograph.

2) Emulsion = This is the most important part and active layer of film. It is composed of
gelatin in which photosensitive silver halide crystals are suspended. It is spread evenly, and
ranges from 5-10 micrometers thick on one or both sides of the base. It acts as a neutral
lucent suspension medium for the silver halide crystals that must be separated from one
another to permit processing chemicals to reach them.

3) Adhesive Layer = Thin coating of adhesive is applied to base material before it is coated
with emulsion. It is designed to glue emulsion to the base and to prevent bubbles or other
distortion when film is bent during processing or handling orwhen wet and heated during
development

4) Base= Flexible, tough, stable rigid and Iucent It must be flexible to permit easy handling
in the darkroom and to make good contact with the cassette pressure pads. It is stable so
it doesn't change its dimensions during the heating in chemicals for processing. It is rigid
to be conveniently placed onto a viewbox. The blue tint of the film base tints the film and
reduces eyestrain, increasing the diagnostic accurary available from the image.

5) Antihalation Coating = Absorbs the light coming from emulsion and prevents
backscatter, visible light, o. reflected light from degrading the image. The coating is
removed by the processing chemicals to permit light to be transmitted through the film for
viewing. Antihalation layers contribute to patient dose.
Notebook #3 Revisions L4

Double emulsion layens (see above for explanations):

L) Supercoat
2) Emulsion
3) Adhesive Layer
41 Base
5) Adhesive Loyer
6) Emulsion
7) Suwrcoat

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Sensitivity Spech
o Size and concentration of the crysals determine the speed of the film
o Each silver halide crysal has a sensitivity speck, which is Silver-gold-sulfide
that increases their attraction to elecEons
. Sensitivity Speck attracts more negative silver atoms because it is
positively charged
. Allows for collection of many silver atoms in one area after being
exposed to x-ray or light photons
. Ag+ ions are neutralize4 and are now meallic Ag
Notebook #3 Revisions 15

Typical Intensifying screen:

Purpose:
. Ampliff the remnant beam, even though less than 1% of ionizing radiation creates a
latent image
. Decrease patient dose because99o/o of latent image is formed by emitted light

L)Base: This is made of polyester plastic and is 1mm thick It must be radiolucent to
permit ffansmission of x-ray photons without adding artifacts to the image. It must not
react with phosphor or interfere with the conversion of x-ray photons to light

2l Reflective Laver:
Phosphor crystals emit light in all directions, and redirect the light back towards the film,
which increases screen efficienry, and decreases dose. This doubles the amount of light
hitting the film

3) Phosphor Layer: This is the active layer. Phosphors are materials that are capable of
absorbing the energy of an incident x-ray photon and emitting light photons.

4) Protective Coat: This coat is plastic and about 25 micrometers thich It is on top of the
phosphor layer and protects the phosphor layer from abrasions and stains during loading
and unloading of films.

5) Screen

6) Film

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