Designation: E801 06 (Reapproved 2011)

Standard Practice for

Controlling Quality of Radiological Examination of
Electronic Devices1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E801; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations

1.1 This practice relates to the radiological examination of
3. Terminology
electronic devices for internal discontinuities, extraneous
material, missing components, crimped or broken wires, and 3.1 DefinitionsRefer to Terminology E1316, Section D.
defective solder joints in cavities, in the encapsulating
materials, or the boards. Requirements expressed in this 4. Direction of Radiation
practice are intended to control the quality and repeatability of 4.1 When not otherwise specified, the direction of the
the radiological images and are not intended for controlling the central beam of radiation shall be as perpendicular (65 %) as
acceptability or quality of the electronic devices imaged. possible to the surface of the film or detector.
NOTE 1Refer to the following publications for pertinent information 5. Image Quality Indicators (IQIs)
on methodology and safety and protection: Guides E94 and E1000, and
General Safety Standard for Installation Using Non-Medical X Ray and 5.1 The quality of all levels of radiological examination
Sealed Gamma Ray Sources, Energies Up to 10 MeV Equipment Design shall be determined by IQIs conforming to the following
and Use, Handbook No. 114.2
specifications:
1.2 If a nondestructive testing agency as described in 5.1.1 The IQIs shall be fabricated of clear acrylic plastic
Practice E543 is used to perform the examination, the testing with steel covers, lead spheres, gold or tungsten wires, and lead
agency should meet the requirements of Practice E543. numbers. The steel covers serve as shims.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5.1.1.1 The IQIs shall conform to the requirements of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Fig. 1.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 5.1.1.2 The IQIs shall be permanently identified with the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- appropriate IQI number as shown in Fig. 1. The number shall
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. be affixed by mounting a 0.125-in. (3.18-mm) tall lead number
on the flat bottom of a 0.250-in. (6.35-mm) diameter hole. The
2. Referenced Documents identification number shall be located as shown in Fig. 1 and
2.1 ASTM Standards:3 shall be of sufficient contrast to be clearly discernible in the
E94 Guide for Radiographic Examination radiological image.
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive 5.1.1.3 Each semiconductor IQI will have a serial number
Testing permanently etched or engraved on it. Each serial number will
E1000 Guide for Radioscopy be traceable to the calibration image supplied by the manufac-
E1255 Practice for Radioscopy turer. The manufacturer shall radiograph the IQI with lead
markers identifying the serial number. See Fig. 2.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nonde- 6. Application of the Image Quality Indicator (IQI)
structive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.01 on
Radiology (X and Gamma) Method. 6.1 The application of the IQIs shall be made in such a
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2011. Published March 2012. Originally manner as to simulate as closely as possible the device being
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E801 - 06. DOI:
10.1520/E0801-06R11. examined. To accomplish this objective, a set of eight IQIs is
2
Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 provided. These provide a range of cover thickness (of steel
Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, http://www.nist.gov.
3
shim stock) that is radiologically equivalent to the range of
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
devices from glass diodes or plastic-encapsulated circuits
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on (number one) to large power or hybrid circuit devices (number
the ASTM website. eight). Wire size increases with shim stock thickness because

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 E801 06 (2011)

FIG. 1 Image Quality Indicator for Electron Devices

Dimensions, in. (mm)
a. 0.187 ( 4.750) f. 1.00 (25.40) k. 1.125 (28.575)
b. 0.375 ( 9.525) g. 0.375 ( 9.525) l. 1.313 (33.350)
c. 0.500 (12.700) h. 0.500 (12.700) m. 1.50 (38.10)
d. 0.625 (15.875) i. 0.625 (15.875) n. 0.125 ( 3.175)
e. 0.813 (20.650) j. 0.938 (23.825) p. 0.250 ( 6.350)

Particle Diameter, in. (mm)

G. 0.015(0.381) J. 0.006(0.152)
H. 0.010(0.254) K. 0.004(0.102)
I. 0.008(0.203) L. 0.002(0.051)
Shim and Wire Specifications
IQI Shim Wire Diameters, in. (mm)
Number Thickness, in. (mm) A B C D E F
1 0 0.002 0.001 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.002
0 (0.051) (0.025) (0.0127) (0.0127) (0.025) (0051)

2 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.002

(0.051) (0.051) (0.025) (0.0127) (0.0127) (0.025) (0.051)

3 0.005 0.002 0.001 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.002

(0.127) (0.051) (0.025) (0.0127) (0.0127) (0.025) (0.051)

4 0.007 0.002 0.001 0.0005 0.0005 0.001 0.002

0.178 (0.051) (0.025) (0.0127) (0.0127) (0.025) (0.051)

5 0.010 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.003

(0.254) (0.076) (0.051) (0.025) (0.025) (0.051) (0.076)

6 0.015 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.002 0.003

(0.381) (0.076) (0.051) (0.025) (0.025) (0.051) (0.076)

7 0.025 0.005 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.005

(0.635) (0.127) (0.076) (0.051) (0.051) (0.076) (0.127)

8 0.035 0.005 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.003 0.005

(0.889) (0.127) (0.076) (0.051) (0.051) (0.076) (0.127)

NOTE 1Use additional layers of shim material as required. The layers shall be 1 by 1.625 in. (25.4 by 41.275 mm). The additional shim material shall
be identified by the placement of lead numbers which denote the thickness immediately adjacent to the IQI during exposure, or as an alternative,
documented on the radiographic technique.
NOTE 2Tolerance is 60.001 in. (0.025 mm) where dimensions are 0.000 and 60.003 in. (0.076 mm) where dimensions are 0.00.
NOTE 3Bond materials together with cyanoacrylic or equivalent fast-drying epoxy.
NOTE 4Particle holes are 0.031 in. (0.787 mm) nominal diameter.
NOTE 5Tolerance on particle diameter is + 0.0003 in. (0.0076 mm).
NOTE 6Wire grooves are 0.007 in. (0.178 mm) depth with 90 inclusive angle.
NOTE 7The number hole is 0.25 in. (0.635 mm) nominal diameter and 0.125 in. (0.318 mm) deep.
FIG. 1 Image Quality Indicator for Electron Devices

higher power devices that have thicker coverings normally use thin coverings. Particle size is normally independent of device
larger interconnecting wires than small signal devices that use type, so these remain constant.

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 E801 06 (2011)
7. Positioning of IQIs
7.1 The IQIs shall be placed so that the plane of the IQI is
normal to the radiation beam.
7.1.1 The IQIs used for each exposure or field of view shall
be positioned at the outer edges of the film or field of view but
not impeding the area of interest being examined.
8. Number of IQIs
8.1 Two IQIs shall be used for each radiograph as shown in
Fig. 3. The IQIs shall be located at diagonally opposite corners
of the film as shown in Fig. 3. In radioscopic examinations, IQI
qualification is required at least once during examination of
similar parts. The procedure for radioscopic IQI qualification
shall be established to subject the IQIs to the same image
NOTE 1Permanently etched or engraved serial number.
NOTE 218 in. lead markers corresponding to serial number.
magnification and distortion as the parts will be subjected to
FIG. 2 Arrangement of IQI and Lead Serial Number for Calibration during inspection and the procedure shall be documented on
Image the radioscopic scan plan/technique.
8.1.1 The radiographic density or grey level of the IQIs
shall bracket the radiographic density or grey level of the
6.2 The IQI used shall be the one with a radiographic devices being examined. Additional shim(s) may be used as
density or grey level nearest to that of the electronic device described in 6.2 to achieve this requirement.
being examined. The radiographic density or grey level is
measured on an area of the IQI image that contains no wire or 9. Part Identification
particle images. It shall be measured using a calibrated 9.1 In radiography, the image of identification markers for
densitometer in the case of film, or by pixel grey level value in the coordination of the part with the film shall appear on the
the case of radioscopic examination. When necessary to meet film, so as not to interfere with the interpretation of the
the requirements of 8.1.1, additional shim stock shall be used. radiograph and so that it is evident that the complete part order
The shim(s) shall be of the same type of steel as in the IQI and was obtained. These marker positions shall coincide with the
shall be placed under the IQI. The additional shim(s) shall part serial number.
exceed the IQI outside dimensions by at least 0.125 in. (3.18
9.2 In radioscopy, the image header for each part image
mm) on at least one side. The thickness of the shims shall be
shall include a part serial number for traceability and to ensure
noted with lead numerals placed adjacent to the shimmed IQI
that the complete part order was obtained.
or documented on the radiographic technique.
NOTE 2Radiographic film densities shall be measured with a cali-
10. Identification of the Image
brated densitometer. When films are exposed simultaneously in one film 10.1 In both radiography and radioscopy, a system of
holder, density variations should be determined on the single or combined positive identification of the image shall be provided in
films, depending on the manner in which they are read and interpreted.
Radiographic film density shall be in the range of 1.0 to 3.5, unless
addition to Section 9. Any or all of the following may appear:
otherwise specified. the name of the examining laboratory, the date, the part
number, the serial number, the date code, the view, and whether
6.3 The image distortion shall not exceed 10 % unless a
original or subsequent exposure.
higher or lower percentage is agreed upon between the
purchaser and the supplier. Measurements for computation of 11. Multiple-Film Techniques
image distortion shall be made in the grid formed by the 11.1 Film techniques with two or more films of equal or
crossing wires. different speeds in the same holder will be permitted, provided
6.3.1 Determine percent image distortion (Note 3) as fol- that the appropriate wires and particles in the IQI for a specific
lows: area are demonstrated.
D 5 @ ~ S M 2 S A ! /S A # 3 100
12. Non-Film Techniques
where:
12.1 The use of non-film imaging techniques will be
D = percent distortion, permitted, provided that the applicable IQI wires and particles
SM = wire spacing as measured on the radiograph, and are demonstrated in the resultant image.
SA = actual wire spacing.
NOTE 3Distortion may be positive or negative. 13. Image Quality
6.4 Particles G through L shall be visible in the image when 13.1 The radiographic image shall be free of blemishes that
IQIs 1 through 7 are used and particles G through K shall be interfere with its interpretation.
visible in the image when IQI number 8 is used.
6.4.1 If shims are required, the number and size of particles 14. Source-Film Distance
that can be resolved shall be agreed on between the purchaser 14.1 Any source-film distance will be satisfactory provided
and the supplier. that the required IQI quality level is attained.

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 E801 06 (2011)

FIG. 3 Typical Image Quality Indicator Arrangement for Electronic Device

15. Records the grids formed by the cross wires and the parallel variances
15.1 Complete records of the radiological technique or scan within the grid. It shall also state the actual size of each
plan details, or both, shall be maintained by the examining particle.
laboratory.
16. Keywords
15.2 A calibration image shall be made by exposing the
individual semiconductor IQI at the proper distance from the 16.1 electronic devices; IQIs; radiography; radioscopy;
focal spot. The IQI shall be centered in the beam during this shim; wire
exposure. The certificate shall show the actual dimensions of

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