Caracterização de um sistema digital de aquisição de imagens radiográficas utilizando nêutrons térmicos e raios gama para a inspeção de componentes mecânicos.

Abstract

Non-destructive testing is an essential approach whenever a piece of equipment, device, or component should not be submitted to a destructive or invasive procedure due to safety reasons, high costs or other physical or logistics constraints. Within this frame, transmission radiography with gamma-rays and thermal neutrons are unique techniques to inspect an object and unveil its inner structure thanks to their capability to pass through a wide range of materials employed in the manufacturing industry. Roughly, as a rule of thumb, gamma-rays are more attenuated by heavy materials, while thermal neutrons are attenuated by the light ones, making them complementary tools. This work presents the results obtained in the inspection of several mechanical components through neutron and gamma-ray transmission radiography. The 4.46 x 105 n.cm-2.s-1 thermal neutron flux available at the main port of the Argonauta research reactor in Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear has been used as source for the neutron radiographic imaging. The 412 keV gamma-ray emitted by 198Au, also produced in that reactor, has been used as interrogation agent for the gamma radiography. Imaging Plates - IP specifically designed to operate with thermal neutrons or with X-rays have been employed as detectors and storage devices for each of these radiations. These devices exhibit several advantages with regard to the conventional radiographic film. Indeed, besides a higher sensitivity and reusability, a dark chamber and a cumbersome chemical processing is not required for the development. Instead, it is carried out by a laser beam which interrogates the electric state of the crystal lattices of the IP, yielding a final digital image. Performances of both Image Acquisition Systems so constituted have been evaluated with regard to sensitivity, spatial resolution, linearity and dynamic range, including a comparison with the neutron radiographic system employing films and a Gd foil as neutron-to-charged particle converter. Besides this characterization, several pieces of equipment, have been radiographed with both systems aiming at the evaluation of their capability to unveil the inner features of these components and to detect abnormal structures or states. Within this frame, a neutron radiography detected the presence of remaining ceramic material - employed as a mold during the manufacturing process - in the cooling channels of a turbo-fan stator blade, which should be free of it. Neutron and gamma-ray radiographs have also shown the damaged rheostat of an automotive pressure probe, but the last one exhibited a better spatial resolution corroborating thus the results obtained during the characterization of both systems. The homogeneity of distribution of the stuff encapsulated in an explosive lead-gasket used in the aero-space industry has also been verified by neutron radiography, for this metal is fairly transparent to neutrons but opaque enough to the hydrogen-bearing explosive material. A diversity of other instruments and components such as variometer, altimeter, aeronautical compass, automotive fuel injector, photo-camera, computer hard disk, step-motor, electronic connectors and bullets have been as well radiographed with both systems addressing their ability to unveil different features according to the type of the employed interrogating agente.