Application of 55Fe sources in radiography

For the inspection of especially thin-walled products with the effective thickness with respect to steel less than 0.1 mm, the sources based on 55Fe with high specific activity have been developed. The exposition dose rate for a source with the activity 500 mc reaches at a distance 2-3 mm a value 700-900 r/hr. The large surface dose rate of gamma-radiation of the sources based on 55Fe makes it possible to inspect effectively the thin-walled products and the biological objects ensuring the sensitivity of inspection not below 5% when the high-contrast radiographic films of the type RT-5 are applied. The small amount of radioactive high-energy impurities makes it possible to use compact and light biological shielding when working with sources based on 55Fe