Fast and epithermal neutron radiography using neutron irradiator

The neutron radiography technique (NR) with neutrons in the energy range fast to epithermal is a powerful tool used in no-destructive inspection of bulky objects of diverse materials, including those rich in hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen ad carbon. Thus, it can be used to identify, inclusions, voids and thickness differences in materials such as explosive artifacts and narcotics. Aiming at using NR with fast and epithermal neutrons, an Irradiator was constructed by: a 241Am-Be source, with 5 Ci activity, a collimator with adjustable collimation rate, L/D; and a shield device composed by plates of borated paraffin and iron. The test specimens chosen were a Beam Purity Indicator (BPI) and an Indicator of Visual Resolution (IVR). The neutron radiography images obtained had a resolution of 444.4 μm and 363.6 μm respectively when registered in: 1) the sheet of the nuclear track solid detector, CR-39 type, through X (n,p) Y nuclear reaction; and 2) Kodak Industrex M radiographic film plate in close contact with a boron converter screen, both stored in a Kodak radiographic cassette. (author)