Nuclear techniques in the Romanian industry: present status and prospects

The paper presents a general information concerning the possibilities offered by nuclear techniques using sealed and non-sealed radioactive sources to be further applied in Romanian industry; methods of monitoring and control based on the effect and characteristics of nuclear radiation are now widely applied in industrial production processes. Nuclear instruments offer several basic advantages in comparison to conventional instruments: -investigation may take place without physical contact and without mechanical moving parts;-measurements can be made through the walls of vessels and containers; - nuclear radiation is not affected by temperature pressure viscosity or chemical composition of the substances. A detailed description is given of the use of radioactive isotopes as radiation sources and tracers for measuring, systems monitoring and controlling upon a several parameters like density, thickness, level as well as for composition and purity analysis or fire detection. (author)