NDTnet 1998 Aug, Vol.3 No.8

Abstract

Imaging Plates (IP) are recently developed sensitive integrating imaging detectors based on the effect of photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL). Various types of IPs sensitive for X- and gamma rays , electrons and other heavier charged particles as well as for neutrons are commercially available. The imaging characteristics of the IP system are broad linear response and dynamic range, excellent spatial resolution comparable to X-ray films, very high detective quantum efficiency, very small image distortions and the reusability of IP. Recently developed neutron sensitive IP and high resolution IP scanners can enable excellent applications of IP also in the neutron radiography as a NDT method, in neutron dosimetry and as neutron image detectors in various neutron beam research techniques.. The use of IP either in transfer or in direct neutron imaging techniques can enable the NR and neutron imaging in general with rather low intensity neutron beams of 10° cm^-2 s^-1 to 10⁴ cm^-2 s^-1 (1) . This is of importance for the in-the field applications of NR in the industry using weak mobile or portable neutron sources. With the existing stationary NR facilities the use of IP can drastically reduce the inspection time. The use of IP might improve or facilitate several already known special NR experimental techniques or even completely new techniques are feasible, where insufficient neutron source intensity often poses a problem for the film based neutron imaging (2). The neutron image quality can be compared to the images obtained by the conventional neutron radiographic film based techniques, however concerning the spatial resolution of NR images the present IP are not adequate to the best film based direct neutron imaging. With time and the development of new IP technology there are good possibilities to improve the inherent unsharpness of the IP systems to the level even better than with Gd/film combination. In the paper the principles and characteristics of the IP systems are summarized and several application possibilities of IPs in radiography with thermal., resonance and fast neutrons are described.

References
1.Stade, L, Rant, L, Kaling, M., Neutron Radiography(5), Proc. 5th World Conf, Berlin, June 1996, German Society for NDT, (1997) 298
2. Rant, J., Stade, J., Balasko, M., Teterev, Yu.G., 5th Ann. Mtg. of European Neutron Radiography Working Group, Bologna (June 1997), ENRWG, to be published

Abstract Source:
Book of Abstracts, 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN: 87-986898-0-00

Full-Text Source:
Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN:

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