Use of radiation in industry
In industry, radiation is beneficial in quality control of materials, measuring the level of containers, or monitoring the thickness or consistency of paper, for example. Devices which monitor industrial processes consist of radiation sources and detectors. When the material between the radioactive source and the detector changes thickness or density, the level of radiation detected also changes. The process can be controlled by weakening or strengthening the signal from the detector.
Industrial radiography is a method of non-destructive testing, used to check for flaws in metal structures and welding seals, among others. The principle is the same as in medical imaging: radiation passes through the object to be tested and exposes the X-ray film placed behind it. Dark patches in the developed film reveal flaws. Radiography devices create radiation using either X-ray machines, or for thicker material, a gamma source or linear accelerator.
Radioactive isotopes are used as tracers in many biochemical and physiological examinations. The path of material marked with tracers is monitored with an activity determination. Radioactive isotopes of carbon and hydrogen can be used to examine the path of nutrients into plants, for example.
