X-Ray Dose in Microfocus Radiographic Inspections
Abstract
The radiation dose accumulated by specimens during real-time microfocus radiographic examination is of interest to program office customers and their contractors because of possible damage to certain sensitive types of electronic components. The real-time X-ray facility in The Aerospace Corporation's Laboratory Operations has two microfocus radiography systems. This report characterizes the radiation levels in both our Feinfocus model 160.52 system and our Phoenix X-ray "PCBA/Analyzer." These instruments are representative of the state-of-the-art in X-ray inspection. The variables involved in the determination of total dose include the voltage and current of the X-ray tube; the amount and type of shielding material (incidental and deliberate) between the sample and the X-ray source; the distance from the source to the sample; and the time spent looking at the sample. Some general principles of X-ray dosimetry are discussed along with strategies for dose minimization when required. Most of the considerable body of published work on the characterization of kilovolt X-ray sources has been done by the medical physics community. This report aims at ensuring that similar information is brought to the attention of people in the aerospace industry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA468142
Entities
People
- G. W. Stupian
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation