Work Parameters

and Condition
Part II
Level 2

A.K.D. Prathibha Wimalasiri

M.Sc (Nuclear Science) B.Sc(Hons , Physics(Sp))
Scientific Officer – NCNDT

NDT Level 3 in MT & PT (As per ISO 9712/NCBNDT,Sri Lanka)

NDT Level 2 in UT, RT ,ET, TT& VT (As per ISO 9712/NCBNDT,Sri Lanka)
 Film Processing
• An X-ray film is composed of a transparent, cellulose base.Both
sides of which are coated with an emulsion of silver halide
suspended in gelatin.
• When light, X-rays or gamma rays strike the silver halide crystals,
a changes takes place such that a latent image is formed in the
crystals which is made visible and permanent by chemically
processing the film.
• The processing is carried out under safe light so does not expose
the film further.
• The processing solutions are normally contained in deep tanks so
that films held in hangers may be suspended vertically in the
solution.

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 Safe Light
• Exposing films to white light affects the crystal. So X-ray
films should only be handled under safe-light conditions If not
film may become fogged.
• It should be noted that exposed film is more sensitive to light
than unexposed film.
• The intensity and location of safelights must be carefully
considered. It is important to guard films against direct
safelight illumination when loading them on hangers
preparatory to group development.

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Test for safelight illumination
• Place an uncovered, unexposed film flat down on the loading
bench. Lay flat objects, such as a ruler, pencil, strip on top of the
film. Leave the film and objects under normal safelight
illumination.
• If no outline of the objects can be seen on the properly processed
film then the safelight illumination can be considered of a low
enough level.

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Film Processing Procedure
Essential stages in processing a radiographic film:

a) development

b) rinsing

c) fixing

d) washing

e) drying.

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Preparation prior to processing
• Stir all solutions before use.
• Check the temperature of the tank solutions.
• Check the level of solutions in the tanks. The radiographer should maintain
the level of the solutions in the tanks. This level should cover the cross bars of
the hangers.
• If solution level be too low, the addition of replenishment solution will bring it
lo the proper level.
• Consult the table of development times and, when accessary, time-temperature
development chart that all manufacturers supply and set the timer accordingly.
• Clean all working surfaces and wash hands.
• Turn off all lights and proceed lo work under safelight conditions only.

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Developing
• When the film is placed in the developer solution, the unexposed crystals
are not affected or removed at this step, but the developer reacts on the
exposed crystals latent image.
• The developing agent gives up electrons to convert the silver halide grains
to metallic silver.
• Grains that have been exposed to the radiation development more
rapidly.
• But enough time (called developing time) should be allowed for the
developer to convert all the silver ions into silver metal.
• Time and temperature are important factors in development.
• Purpose of agitation is to: Dislodge any air bubbles clinging to the film
Replenishment

• To ensure that the activity of the developer and the

developing time required remains constant.
• After 1m2 of film has been developed about 400ml
of replenishes needs to be added.
Rinsing
(Stopping the development)
• Stop bath simply stops the development process by
diluting and washing away with water.
• In here the rinsing time is about 30 to 60 seconds.
• Rinsing is important to:
• Stop the development action
• Inhibit the transfer of developer into the fixer.
• 3% of Acetic acid neutralizes the developer.
• If this acid is not available, the film can be
immersed in clean running water for 1 to 2 minutes.
Fixing
• The functions of the fixing or "hypo" bath are:
• To stop further development
• Unexposed silver halide crystals are removed by
the fixer.
• The fixer dissolved only silver halide crystals leaving
the silver metal behind.
• The fixer permanently fixes the image of the film.
Washing
• The film is washed with running water for about 20
minutes to remove all the processing chemicals.
• Insufficient washing the film can caused the yellow
fog appears.
• Water temperature should be between 150C to
250C
Drying
• Drying has an important factor on the quality of the
finished radiograph.
• It should be done without causing any damage to
the emulsion or marks from uneven drying, and
without exposing the dust or lint.
Dark Room
• The darkroom should be kept clean
• It should be completely light proof and remote
from sources of X-ray and gamma radiation.
• Be ventilated and healed for comfortable working
conditions.
• The darkroom needs to be completely lightproof, so
the entrance must be a “light-trap” usually in the
form of two doors, (one after the other)
• X-ray films are best-processed in normal
orange-red or green darkroom lights.
Dark Room Lay out
Dark Room is normally divided into 02 area.
• Dry Side- For loading and unloading the film into
and from the cassette respectively.
• Wet Side – For film Processing.
 Film Handling
• Radiographic film should always be handled carefully to
minimize physical strains such as pressure and friction.
• Finger nail impression caused by rough handling of the film
must be avoided.

Blisters Formation of gas bubbles in film

emulsion.
White crystalline deposits Inadequate washing after processing
Milky appearance Incomplete fixing. Exhausted fixing
bath.
Sharply outlined light Uneven development. Films not
and dark areas agitated
during development. Films hung too
close
together in developer.
Black Crescent Kinking of film before processing
While crescents Sharp bending or folding of the
processed film
Over-all fog • Over-development
• Over-age film
• Prolonged exposure to safelight
• Unsuitable safelight filters
• Insufficient protection in storage from radiation sources.
• Film stored where temperature and humidity are too high.
• Viewing developed film before its properly fixed

Black streaks or blotches Light leaks due lo faulty film holders or cassette
Streaks • White and black streaks at points where film was attached
to hanger caused by processing solution remaining on
clips from prior use.
• Inadequate agitation during development.
• Removing film to view during development period causing
developer to run across film unevenly.
• Contamination by chemically-active deposits.
• Interaction of developer and fixer
Black Spots Developer splashes before placing
entire film in developer.
• Grey fog
1. unsuitable dark room safe lighting
2. excessive exposure to safelight (i.e. too long or too close)
3. film accidentally exposed to X-ray or Gamma-ray or to white
light
4. heavy scatter
5. film out-of-date or stored under unsuitable conditions
6. excessive developing
7. exhausted or wrongly mixed developer
8. film cassette with film exposed to heat (e.g. sunlight)
9. cassette not properly closed (edge fog)

• Dark patches
1. drops of developer have fallen onto the film before
development
2. drops of water have fallen onto the film before development

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Film Characteristics
• Performance of the film during exposure and
processing and the subsequent image quality
depends on the following factors.
• Film graininess
• Film density
• Film Speed
• Film Contrast
Film graininess
• A film is comprises a huge quantity of grains.
• Film with large grain Coarse grained film
• Film with small grains  Fine grained film
• Coarse grained film produce less sharp image
compared with fin grained film.
• If the exposure and film development is improper,
the image may give grainy look
• This is called graininess.
 Film Density
• Density is a measure of the blackening of a
radiographic film.
• A film of high density is darker than that of lower
density, measured by densitometer.
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