The neutron radiography is a good option that can be used for the imaging of the objects just as the other methods in the radiography. However, it is mainly used for the industrial purposes. Neutron radiography is a non-destructive method for viewing the internal composition and thus, knowing about any defects or contents in the substance.

However, in this technique there is a use of the neutrons instead of the X-rays. The neutron beams have properties different from the X-rays especially, in case of their passivity. They can pass through the thicker materials as steel and lead. However, they are not able to pass through the softer and lighter things as the plastic, wood, etc.

The advantage of the Neutron radiography over the conventional radiography is that only limited and specific substances affect the neutron beam. While the X-ray attenuation is affected by all the elements. Therefore, the Neutron radiography can differentiate between the different elements.

The neutron beams undergo spatial, as well as temporal attenuation and this can be detected using the detection systems.

Apparatus: Neutron radiography technology requires a neutron source, which is generally a radioactive substance. This produces the neutron beam. However, this beam is to be very intense and therefore it is necessary to use big reactors for producing it. Different types of detectors are used for detection these may be the photocells, photodiodes, counters, etc.

The applications of the neutron radiography are as follows; neutron radiography can be applied for analyzing different things, in the different fields. As the neutron beam is specific for the passivity, and in addition to this, it is non-destructive, it has very wide applications. The use of “penetrants” on the substances, which are to be tested, enhances the applications of the neutron radiography.

It can be used for analyzing the purity of the metals structures. In addition to this, the Neutron radiography is also useful for analyzing the internal configuration i.e. we can know about the defects, or cracks, etc, in the various types of structures.

In addition to this, the neutron radiography is also applied in the analysis of the non-metals, composites and mixed materials, polymers as pyrotechnics, resins, plastics, organic material, honeycomb structures, radioactive materials, materials having high density, etc. The neutron radiography is widely used for study of the materials that contain hydrogen.

Limitations - However, this method also has some problems as, problems about the use of ‘access’ for placing the test piece in the test machine, difficulties in altering or controlling the path of neutron beam, etc. Moreover, the reactors that produce the neutrons are to be very large. In addition to this, it can detect only the cracks that are parallel to the beam’s direction, and its sensitivity decreases if, the thickness is increased.

Above all, the most important limitation about the use of this technique is that neutron radiography can give rise to radioactive pollution.

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