CHM-112
Imaging Metals for Structural Integrity
INTRODUCTION
Everyday you walk outside you feel nuclear chemistry at work as
sunlight warms your skin. Quite literally the effects of nuclear chemistry
are all around us. Humans have learned to harness other forms of
nuclear chemistry to help us solve problems that occur here on earth in
various fields such as scientific research, agriculture, and the more well
known medical uses. Most of us have lived through the experience of
having an X-ray taken of a broken bone or our teeth but it is also
possible to use this same nuclear chemistry for our safety. If you have
ever gone through airport security you can appreciate the value of this
application as they search luggage and even people for dangerous
items that could put lives at risk on your travels. I myself found it
interesting that we can image metal using gamma radiation to look for
weaknesses in structural integrity providing yet another way of keeping
us safe.
DESCRIPTION
How the Imaging Works
First a high energy photon must be produced. In the case of X-rays it
begins with a vacuum tube containing an electrode pair. The anode, which
is made of tungsten, attracts the electrons at high velocity. When the
speeding electron collides with a tungsten atom it knocks out an electron
within the tungsten from a low orbital. Immediately a higher energy
electron in a larger orbital drops to replace the missing electron and this
emits a high energy X-ray photon (Tom).
Next, the X-ray photons are focused on the specimen that is being
imaged. Being a high energy photon it is able to pass through solid
material. This is possible because of varying sizes of atoms. Smaller
atoms are not able to block the X-rays while larger atoms have the ability
to absorb some of that energy. The reason behind this is because for the
atoms to absorb the energy they must have electron orbitals with enough
distance between them to match the energy level of the photon or else the
X-ray is unable to shift their electrons between orbitals (Tom). In the case
of medical X-ray procedures, “bones or tumors contain larger atoms” and
“the energy differences between orbitals closely match those of high
energy level of X-ray photons, these structures absorb X-ray photons
much better than the smaller atoms found in body tissues (i.e. fat, muscle,
etc)”(Megraw).
Finally, after passing through the specimen the high energy photons
make contact with film to produce an image. Areas where the photons
pass through easily darken the film and where they are unable to pass
through the film is white. Any areas with a break allow more photons to
pass through causing dark areas where there should be none, like a
broken bone or vise versa a tumor or gun in a suitcase.
Fall 2019
Rodney Sinkler
Thomas Nelson Community College
ILLUSTRATION
Imaging Metals
While it is possible to X-ray metal objects there are some obstacles that have to be overcome
that may make X-rays unfeasible. The specimen to be imaged may be in a tight place that does A sample of iridium-192
not allow enough space for an X-ray machine or possibly the specimen would not allow the X- chemistrylearner.com/iridium-192.html
rays to pass through. There is one solution that exists for both problems and that is using
radioactive isotopes. “This method of nondestructive testing has been developed alongside X-
ray inspection and in general has been of special service where (a) radiographic examination
has to be carried out in positions that would be inaccessible to bulky X-ray apparatus (b)
relatively thick and dense metal parts are to be examined, since these would normally be
beyond the range of ordinary X-ray equipment, the radiation from which is generally less
penetrating than that from the gamma ray source” (Mintern,Chaston).
One common isotope used is iridium-192. Radioisotope Ir-192 is normally produced by
neutron activation of natural-abundance iridium metal, usually in nuclear reactors. The strength
of a resulting Ir-192 is related to the amount of neutron irradiation and length of time to which
the iridium metal is exposed. During irradiation only the stable isotope Ir-191 is activated to Diagram of a wind out camera for radioisotopes
produce Ir-192 by absorbing a neutron (Isoflex). Because it can be created in varying strengths isoflex.com/products/radioisotopes/iridium-isotopes
and sizes it has a wide range of uses where stronger Ir-192 disks can be used to image thick
metal and weaker Ir-192 thin wires could be used in localized medicine like destroying tumor
cells. Ir-192 decays emitting both beta particles and gamma radiation to form platinum-192
according to Wikipedia and the gamma ray is a higher energy photon that X-rays therefore it is
able to penetrate deeper into materials with larger atoms like metal.
The imaging is similar to X-rays where a film captures the amount of gamma rays able to
CONCLUSION
The ability to image metals through the use of gamma radiology not only increases
pass through the specimen revealing weak spots and breaks. These images can be studied by understanding of stresses on metal it has the ability to make the world a safer place. Imagine
engineers to find causes of poor structural integrity. According to Isoflex, a supplier of industrial taking a cruise on an older ship with a large metal hull. Without the ability to regularly check the
grade Ir-192 there are many uses for the product. Industrial gamma radiography involves the integrity of the hull for weaknesses from corrosion and age you leave it up to chance that your
vacation will not end up in disaster. The testing of pipelines allows us to protect the environment
testing and grading of welds on pressurized piping, pressure vessels, high-capacity storage from ecological disasters that could in turn effect life the area, possibly human life.
containers, pipelines, and certain structural welds. Other tested materials include concrete Nuclear chemistry is all around us not only from the fusion occurring in the sun but also in our
airports, docks, hospitals and many other places we may not even be aware of. While it can be
(locating rebar or conduit within the concrete), machined parts, plate metal, and pipe wall. very dangerous and is by no means a toy, it can also be used to save lives. Whether it be
Gamma radiography is also used to identify flaws in metal castings and welded joints, as well as checking the structural integrity of a vessel transporting us like an airplane wing or figuring out if a
building’s supports are strong enough to keep it from collapsing after an earthquake I for one am
to indicate structural anomalies due to corrosion or mechanical damage. Using Ir-192 differs happy humans have learned how to harness the power of nuclear chemistry through gamma
from X-rays by not requiring machinery to produce the photons. Because of this a sample of the radiology.
isotope can be placed in a shielded container and simply exposed to produce the photons
needed for imaging. This can be accomplished with a manually operated device such as the
one in the illustration showing a diagram of a wind out camera where the sample is pushed out
REFERENCES
of the shielded structure through a tube shaped like an S. The specimen can be safely exposed Iridium-192 half-life, Properties, uses, BRACHYTHERAPY, DECAY. (2017, July 17). Retrieved
November 20, 2019, from http://www.chemistrylearner.com/iridium-192.html
in this way to create the desired image. In case of tighter areas where a human could not get to
Isoflex. (n.d.). Iridium-192 (192Ir). Retrieved November 22, 2019, from
for the operation of this device a radio controlled device can be used to transport the isotope https://www.isoflex.com/products/radioisotopes/iridium-isotopes
where it needs to go so an image can be safely obtained. Megraw. (2012, January 23). How do x-rays work, exactly? Retrieved November 20, 2019, from
http://explorecuriocity.org/Explore/ArticleId/163/how-do-x-rays-work-exactly-163.aspx
Mintern, R. A., & Chaston, J. C., Ph.D., A.R.S.M. (1959). Gamma radiography with Iridium 192.
Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://www.technology.matthey.com/article/3/1/12-16/
Tom, H. (2002, March 26). How X-rays Work. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from
https://science.howstuffworks.com/x-ray.htm