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N-Ray vs. X-Ray (What'S The Difference?) : Click On Image Below To Download PDF Enlargement of Comparision

Neutron radiography and X-radiography are complementary non-destructive testing techniques that use different types of radiation - neutrons and X-rays respectively - to image objects. While metals show up clearly in X-rays, liquids, plastics and ceramics are more visible in neutron radiography. Neutron radiography can image items inside of metal and reveal internal chambers, as the metals are relatively invisible to neutrons. The two techniques provide different and useful information for particular applications depending on the material composition being examined.

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80 views2 pages

N-Ray vs. X-Ray (What'S The Difference?) : Click On Image Below To Download PDF Enlargement of Comparision

Neutron radiography and X-radiography are complementary non-destructive testing techniques that use different types of radiation - neutrons and X-rays respectively - to image objects. While metals show up clearly in X-rays, liquids, plastics and ceramics are more visible in neutron radiography. Neutron radiography can image items inside of metal and reveal internal chambers, as the metals are relatively invisible to neutrons. The two techniques provide different and useful information for particular applications depending on the material composition being examined.

Uploaded by

Ahmad Daniel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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N-RAY VS. X-RAY (WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Neutron radiography (N-ray or NR) and X-radiography (X-ray) are complementary


non-destructive testing techniques. In both cases, a form of radiation passes through
the object being imaged, and then exposes a photographic film. The type of radiation
used in neutron radiography is neutrons, while the type of radiation used in X-
radiography is X-rays. Neutron radiographs and X-radiographs show different
characteristics of the object imaged due to differences in neutron and X-ray
interaction with the material that the object is made up of (see Figure 1).

The images shown below provide good examples of the differences between neutron
radiography and X-radiography.

Liquids, such as the lighter fluid shown in the lighter image, plastics, rubbers,
ceramics and lubricants show up very well in neutron radiographs, while metal
components show up well in X-ray images. Due to the relative invisibility of metals to
neutrons, neutron radiography can be used to effectively image items encased in
metal. The variation in images produced using neutron radiography and X-
radiography makes the two complementary technologies, both very useful
for particular applications.

Click on image below to download PDF enlargement of comparision.

Lighter Quick-disconnect Fitting Turbine Blade


N-ray(left) vs. X-ray(right) Nray(left) vs. X-ray(right) Nray(top) vs. X-ray(bottom)
Figure (a) - Liquids Figure (b) - Internal Chambers Figure (c) - Internal Structure

Figure (a)
Liquids, such as the lighter fluid shown in the image above, as well as, plastic
components, rubbers, ceramics and lubricants show up very brightly in neutron
radiographs, while metals show up well in X-ray images. For this reason, neutron
radiography is well suited to imaging various materials encased in metals.
Figure (b)
Internal chambers, passage ways and details in metal parts, such as the quick-
disconnect fitting shown above, can be imaged very clearly using neutron
radiography. x-radiography is more suited to imaging metal inclusions in other
materials.

Figure (c)
The internal structure, air pathways and blockages or inclusions in metal alloy turbine
blades can be imaged very clearly using neutron radiography. Even areas surrounded
by several centimeter thickness material, such as the turbine blade root holes shown
in the image above, can be imaged very effectively. X-radiography is more suited to
imaging metals inside of other materials.

Figure 1

Figure 1 While the probability of x-ray interaction with matter increases with the
target material atomic number, the probability of neutron interaction with matter is
random with respect to the target material atomic number. Neutron attenuation by
matter depends on the material properties, specifically the neutron cross-section.

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