Computed Radiography Ideal for Flash X-ray Applications

BIETIGHEIM-BISSINGEN, Germany - July 28, 2022 - PRLog -- L3 Harris is a world-leading manufacturer of flash X-ray systems that address a wide variety of industrial and research applications. Flash X-ray is used when it is necessary to examine fast-moving, visually-obscured objects, or to observe the effects of an event or impact that is too fast for the human eye.

L3 Harris Pulserad™ Flash X-ray Systems produce a single, extremely short and high-powered X-ray pulse that can be used to effectively stop the motion of a fast moving object and allow its internal structure to be imaged and analyzed.Past applications include inspection of helicopter blades while spinning, munitions in flight, impact events such as car crashes and bulletproof vests, and even evaluation of space shuttle tiles being struck by hypervelocity objects.

L3 Harris usually uses Computed Radiography (CR) to capture images because of its numerous advantages over film and DR. Specifically, the time to acquire an image is much shorter than it would be using film, and no darkroom or chemicals are required. This means that imaging can be done in the field and the results are available almost immediately. In addition, digital images are easily manipulated to enhance details and make accurate measurements of objects in the image. CR plates, unlike film, are also accepting of multiple x-ray exposures.

L3 Harris uses the DÜRR NDT ScanX Discover HC CR scanner to electronically capture X-ray images and then displays them digitally on a monitor for evaluation.

The ScanX HC is ideally suited for this application because of its ability to deliver high contrast images, and the flexibility given to the user to directly manipulate and control the internal functions of the scanner. For example, the Photo Multiplier Tube (PMT) inside the scanner can be explicitly controlled to provide the maximum amplification of the image captured on the imaging plate. Flash X-ray pulsers generally produces lower X-ray doses than standard NDT applications, which in turn means a relatively low exposure on the imaging plate. Having the ability to control the PMT to amplify this faint signal is key to capturing a usable image, as is the very low noise of the ScanX HC PMT.

In addition to the ScanX CR system, DÜRR NDT offers a variety of CR, DR and software products to the NDT industry. DÜRR NDT is proud to partner with L3 Harris and to provide solutions that address the unique requirements of flash X-ray applications.

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