Basic Requirements for Film Radiography

in all National and International Standards

All film based standards require:

Basics of radiation technique • Minimum optical Density (e.g. D > 2.0)
Lecture 01
• Maximum film system class (e.g.  ISO C4)
• Maximum unsharpness (< 0.1 mm, FFD/FOD)
• Minimum IQI perception (e.g. > W14, < H3)

What are the correct requirements for film replacement by Digital

Radiology?
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Digital Radiology Level II Digital Radiology Level II

Differences and Similarities Between

Digital Radiology and Film Radiography Whole Spectrum of Electromagnetic Radiation
 The Digital Industrial Radiology (DIR) procedure is different from the film
radiography procedure. high energy

 But: The optical impression of digital radiographic images is not different

from film images in its structure (if no digital image processing is applied, (gamma radiation)
conventional

X-ray
except brightness and contrast control).
low energy
 RT-trained personal can interpret digital images in analogy to film.

Energy in eV
 Digital images need a computer and monitor for presentation and may ultraviolet

light
visible
be altered by specialized image processing.
 A basic training in image processing is essential to avoid miss infrared

broadcasting
interpretation. FM
 Quantitative assessment of flaw sizes is improved by digital measuring short wave
tools but the results may differ from those ones of film interpretation.
long wave
 New electronic reference catalogues may support correct image
assessment. 3 4

Digital Radiology Level II Physical Background

Generation of X-rays
high voltage Types of X-Ray Tubes

Bipolar X-Ray tubes Unipolar X-Ray tubes

cathode anode
vacuum
Panorama tube
- + Normal Panorama tube Short anode
Rod anode

450 kV 300 kV 225 kV 150 kV

10 mA 8 mA 15 mA 5 mA

High Voltage High Voltage

Cathode - Anode + Cathode - Anode 
filament Öl - or Gas cooling Water cooling
transformer
5 6

Physical Background X-Ray Tubes

1
 Bipolar – X-Ray Tube Unipolar – X-Ray Tube

- G
- G
+ - G
+

Water
Oil / Gas

7 8

Röntgenstrahler Röntgenstrahler

Example of a Bipolar Metal-Ceramic X-Ray Tube

Types of X-Ray Tubes

Standard tubes
Single tank tubes
Split generator and tube

Tube
Tube
Generator

Casing
Generator

9 10

X-Ray Tubes Röntgenstrahler

Rod Anode and Panorama Tubes Cross Section Through a 160 kV unipolar X-Ray Tube

11 12

Röntgenstrahler Physical Background

2
 Focal Spot Sizes
Cathodes for a small Tungsten anode with
and a large focal spot burn-in Thermal focal spot

Effective focal spot d

13 14

Physical Background Physical Background

additional lead lead

shielding shielding
Intensity = „amount of radiation“

maximal intensity

filter
tube detector

maximum energy
(upper limit)

Energy = radiation quality soft to hard

15 16

Röntgenstrahler Physical Background

Change of Tube Current

average energy Uconst. = 100 kV

characteristic radiation
Irel.
rel. ambient dose / flux

I3 = 10 mA
intensity

I2 = 5 mA

I1 = 2,5 mA
Bremsstrahlung
radiation maximum energy limit

energy (keV): flux (solid line) 50 100 150 energy E [keV]

17 18

Physical Background Physical Background

3
Effect of the Tube Current on the Radiograph of a Step Wedge Change of Tube Voltage

2,5 mA 5 mA 10 mA Iconst. = 5 mA
average energy
Irel.
U3 = 150 kV

intensity
U2 = 100 kV

U1 = 75 kV

upper energy
limits

50 100 150 energy E [keV]

19 20

Physical Background Physical Background

Attenuation effects
Effect of the Tube Voltage on the Imaging of a Step Wedge

75 kV 100 kV 150 kV
Photo absorption

Compton effect

21 22

Physical Background Physical Background

Attenuation Effects Law of Attenuation

I Intensity behind the specimen

- · w
I = I0 · e
I0 Intensity of unattenuated
radiation
 Attenuation coefficient
w Penetrated wall thickness of the
specimen

23 24

Physical Background Physical Background

4
 Attenuation Coefficients of Various Materials Spectral Shift Due to Pre-Filtering

25 26

Physical Background Physical Background

Conclusion:
Increasing the tube voltage
 increase of the radiation energy
 higher penetrability of the radiation
 higher radiation intensity
The radiation penetrates materials more easily,
even thicker layers can be penetrated more readily
Increasing the tube current
 increase of the radiation intensity
 no improved penetration
Pre-filtering
 reduced proportion of lower energies (hardening)
 reduction of the intensity
 facilitates the penetration of a larger range of thicknesses
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Physical Background