PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF

X RAY FILMS
DR. M H BHUYAN
DR. P BORAH
DR. D J BORPATRAGOHAIN
DR. L NATH
Presenter: Dr. Shreyosi Datta DR. P N TAYE (MODERATOR)
DR. S S BISWAS
INTRODUCTION

 The X-Ray films help us to record the information regarding

the object (tissue) through which the X-rays pass & hence
they greatly help in diagnosis & treatment of the patient.
 Image recorded on film is caused by exposure to photons.
HISTORY
 The first x-rays were recorded on glass plates.
 These were coated with emulsion only on one side.
 The exposure dose was quite high.
• One year later, it was discovered that treating exposed
silver chloride paper with sodium chloride would make
the image permanent.
• Nitrocelluose based film was used in 1914 for recording
x-rays.
• This film was single-emulsion but was quiet flammable
• It was later discovered that double-emulsion responded
to x-rays faster.
• In 1924, safety film made of cellulose triacetate replaced
the nitrocellulose based film.
COMPOSITION
X-RAY FILM Cross Section
BASE FILM
• It is a transparent supporting material.
• POLYESTER POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE RESIN are used.
• Thickness - 0.18 mm
FUNCTIONS OF BASE
• Provide support for emulsion layer.
• To transmit light
IDEAL PROPERTIES OF BASE
MATERIAL
1.Structural support for fragile emulsion.
2.Should not produce visible pattern on the radiograph.
3.Flexible, thick & strong.
4.Dimensional stability : Maintain size and shape during processing,
handling and storage.
5.Non - Flammable.
TINTED BLUE FILM
• Triacetate and Polyester are clear and colorless.
• Adopted in 1933, blue tint was added to the x-ray film in an effort to
produce a film that was “easier” to look at.
• Causes less eye strain.
• Blue tint can be added either to the base or to the emulsion.
• All present x ray films are blue tinted
ADHESIVE LAYER
• Also called subbing layer or Substratum layer.
• Made of mixture of gelatin solution and solvent of film base.
• It keeps emulsion layer and base adhered to each other during coating
stage and processing.
• Provides uniform surface over which the emulsion can be coated
uniformly.
EMULSION LAYER
• Has 2 principle components –
Silver halide grains
 Vehicle matrix
• It consists of a homogeneous mixture of gelatin and silver halide
crystals.
• In typical emulsion 90 to 99% is AgBr and about 1 to 10% AgI .
EMULSION LAYER
• The presence of AgI produces an emulsion of much higher sensitivity than
a pure AgBr emulsion.
• It also contains traces of sulfur (ALLYLTHIOUREA).
GELATIN
• Gelatin is used as the suspending medium and binding agent for
the silver halide particles.
• It comes from collagen fiber in which primary source are the
cartilage, skin and the protein matrix (ossein) of bone of animals.
WHY WE USE GELATIN AS BINDER?
• It is a medium in which SILVER NITRATE and SODIUM BROMIDE can
react and the resulting AgBr gets finely and evenly dispersed and
remains suspended.
• In warm state it can be easily spread on the film base.
• On cooling, it sets firmly on the base as gel.
• It is flexible and does not crack easily on bending.
• It is optically transparent .
• Gelatin does not react chemically with the silver halide .
• It is porous so the processing chemicals can penetrate to the silver halide
crystals.
• Some of the constituents in gelatin enhances the activity of Silver
bromide and some act as anti-foggant.
HOW SILVER HALIDE CRYSTALS
ARE MADE?
Metallic silver is dissolved in nitric acid
to form
Silver Nitrate
by mixing
Silver nitrate + KBr = Ag-Br + Potassium nitrate
• Silver halide in the emulsion is
in the form of small crystals.

• Silver halide crystals may be

tabular, globular, polyhedral, or
irregular in shape.
• Crystal size might vary from 1.0 –
1.5 microns in diameter.
• Perfect crystal has almost no
photographic sensitivity.

• Several types of crystal defects

noted.
POINT DEFECT (FRENKEL DEFECT)

• A Point defect consists of a

Silver Ion that has moved
out of its normal position in
crystal lattice (Interstitial
Ions).
 DISLOCATION
A dislocation is a line imperfection in
the crystal.
Cause a strain in the wall structure.
Iodine ion strains the crystal in this way
 CHEMICAL SENSITIZATION
• Chemical sensitization of the crystals are produced by adding allythiourea,
a sulfur containing compound to the emulsion , which reacts with silver
halide to form silver sulfide. This Silver sulphide is usually located on
surface of the crystals and is referred as “sensitivity speck ”.It is the
sensitivity speck that traps electrons to begin formation of the latent image
centers.
LATENT IMAGE
• Remnant radiation interacts with the silver halide crystals
• Mainly by the photoelectric interaction
• The energy deposited into the film is in the same pattern as the subject
that was exposed to radiation
• This invisible image is known as the latent image
 LATENT IMAGE
• A latent image on photographic (radiographic) film is an
invisible image produced by the exposure of the film to light
(radiation).
• By chemically processing the latent image it is made visible
known as the manifest image.
FORMATION OF LATENT IMAGE
• Metallic silver is black, so it is this metallic silver that produces black
areas on a developed films.
• Exposure of silver-iodo-bromide grains to light photons emitted by
screen / direct x-ray exposure initiates the formation of atomic silver to
form a visible pattern.
Latent Image Formation - Gurney-Mott
Energy absorbed from light photon
ejects Bromide electron
Electron at sensitivity speck is
trapped and temporarily fixed .
Negative electron attracts interstitial
Ag+ ions
Ag+ and e- combine to form neutral (black) Ag
If >6-10 Ag ions accumulate at speck, it becomes a latent image
center, which is developable.
GURNEY MOTT HYPOTHESIS

This Process Repeats

TYPE OF XRAY FILMS - ACCORDING
TO EMULSION LAYER
•Single coated
These films have a single emulsion layer coated onto one side
of the film base. This single layer contains the light sensitive
materials that captures the XRAY image when exposed. They
are simpler in construction but may have limitations in
sensitivity and image quality compared to double coated films.
•Double coated
These films features emulsion layers on both side of the film
base. This configuration increases the film sensitivity to the
XRAY and enhance image quality
Difference b/w Single Coated and Double
Coated X-ray Film

CHARACTERISTIC SINGLE COATED DOUBLE COATED

Emulsion Layer One side Both side
Patient Radiation dose More Less
Radiographic detail More Less
Contrast Less More
TYPE OF XRAY FILMS - ACCORDING
TO PACKAGING

Single film packet

Contains one X-ray film sheet encased in a light-tight
covering. This packet is used for capturing a single X-ray
image
TYPE OF XRAY FILMS - ACCORDING
TO PACKAGING

Double film packet

Contains two X-ray film sheets, often separated by a divider
within the protective covering. It allows for the capture of two
X-ray images without needing to open a new packet or adjust
the X-ray machine setup between exposures.
TYPES OF X-RAY FILMS - BASED ON
THEIR APPLICATION
Application Based X-
RAY Films

Screen Film Duplicating

Film

Non
Mammography
Screen
Film
Film
SCREEN FILMS
•Most commonly used
•Sensitive to blue light emitted by intensifying screens and direct
actions of x-rays
•Used in cassettes with intensifying screens
•High speed.
NON-SCREEN / DIRECT EXPOSURE FILMS
•Has thicker coat of emulsion used without intensifying screen.
•Depends mainly on action of x-ray.
•Four times faster than that of screen films so requires 1/4th
exposure only.
•Must be manually processed because of thick emulsion.
Uses
• In limb radiography.
• To detect intra-ocular foreign body.
• In dental with intra-oral cardboard.
MAMMOGRAPHY FILM
•Single coated
•Fine grain
•Slow speed
•High contrast
•Designed to be used with single intensifying screen
•Combination must be fast to deliver minimum dose to the
glandular tissue.
DUPLICATING FILM
•Used to copy radiograph.
•Original cassette to be copied is inserted into a cassette whose
opaque front has been replaced by pane of clear glass
•Special duplicating film is placed with emulsion side down onto
radiograph and lid closed.
WHAT IS SPEED OF X-RAY FILM ?
•It is defined as the amount of the radiation required to produce
the radiograph of adequate density.
•Slow film – require more exposure & vice versa.
Factors affecting film speed –
• Size of crystals
• Shape of grains
• Thickness of emulsions
THANK YOU