DIANE STATIONARY NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEM IMAGE QUALITY AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The SODERN neutron radiography laboratory has operated since February 1993 using a sealed tube generator (GENIE 46). An experimental program me of characterization (dosimetry, spectroscopy) has confirmed the exp ected performances concerning: neutron flux intensity, neutron energy range, residual gamma flux. Results are given in a specific report [2) . This paper is devoted to the image performance reporting. ASTM and s pecific indicators have been used to test the image quality with vario us converters and films. The corresponding modulation transfer functio ns are to be determined from image processing. Some industrial applica tions have demonstrated the capabilities of the system: corrosion dete ction in aircraft parts, ammunitions filling testing, detection of pol ymer lacks in sandwich steel sheets, detection of moisture in a probe for geophysics, residual ceramic cores imaging in turbine blades. Vari ous computerized electronic imaging systems will be tested to improve the industrial capabilities.