Steel inclusion detection using high resolution X-ray non-destructive testing

SilverRay Ltd是一家初创公司，其主要目标是开发用于生产大面积，高灵敏度X射线探测器的专有技术，用于实际应用。这种专有技术已经证明了比传统有机探测器高2-3个数量级的X射线探测灵敏度，同时在低电压下工作，并为复杂表面提供出色的成形。此外，该技术还能探测到能量范围从60 kV到6 MV的X射线，因此可应用于各种终端应用，如医疗射线照相、无损检测和安全边界控制等。目前，通过射线照相进行无损检测（NDT）的主要技术是使用基于非柔性平板探测器的先进数字X射线成像技术，其输出直接显示在计算机屏幕上。探测器不能弯曲，并且由于其高成本和易碎性，需要小心地以其刚性形式使用。这与传统的广泛使用的柔性照相胶片技术相比，后者允许访问对象的复杂部分/角落，但不能提供实时成像或数字操作。在SilverRay Ltd，我们开发了一种探测器活性材料，由可打印的“X射线敏感油墨”组成，其中包含两种元素：有机材料和无机纳米粒子的互穿网络。“X射线敏感油墨”可用于在各种基底上涂覆X射线敏感像素化薄膜，包括开发柔性探测器。到目前为止，SilverRay Ltd.已成功开发出小面积探测器（<1 cm 2）。当前项目的目标是将该技术扩大到大面积（8x2.5 cm 2）舒适的多像素数字设备，适用于无损检测应用中的X射线成像。将开发读出电子设备，以便在制造环境中进行远程NDT检查。与项目合作方Tata Steel一起，探测器性能将在建筑行业使用的安全关键产品的真实的世界应用中进行测试。作为该可行性计划的成果，X射线成像系统将使SilverRay能够展示其专有的大面积数字胶片技术，其规模适用于包括NDT在内的许多其他应用。这项新的突破性技术得到了美国专利申请的支持，最初将用于制造适用于NDT应用的探测器，例如这里确定的安全关键产品。

SilverRay Ltd is a start-up company whose primary goal is to exploit a proprietary technology developed for the production of large area, high sensitivity X-ray detectors for real-world applications. This proprietary technology has demonstrated a 2-3 orders of magnitude higher X-ray detection sensitivity than conventional organic detectors, whilst operating at low voltages and offering excellent shaping to complex surfaces. Further, the technology has detected X-radiation over a broad energy range, from 60 kV to 6 MV, making it applicable for a variety of end applications such as medical radiography, non-destructive testing, and security border controls, amongst others.The current, dominant technology for non-destructive testing (NDT) by radiography is the use of advanced digital X-ray imaging technology based on inflexible flat panel detectors, with outputs displayed directly on to a computer screen. The detectors cannot be flexed, and need to be used in its rigid form with care due to its high expense and fragility. This is in comparison to the traditional and widely used flexible photographic film technology which allows access to complex parts/corners of an object but which does not offer real-time imaging or digital manipulation.At SilverRay Ltd, we have developed a detector active material consisting of a printable 'X-ray sensitive ink' containing two elements: an interpenetrating network of organic material and inorganic nanoparticles. The 'X-ray sensitive ink' can be used to coat X-ray sensitive pixelated films over a wide range of substrates, including the development of flexible detectors.Thus far, small area detectors (<1 cm2) have been successfully developed by SilverRay Ltd. The aim of the current project is to scale up the technology to large area (8x2.5 cm2) conformable, multi-pixel, digital devices suitable for X-ray imaging in NDT applications. Readout electronics will be developed allowing for remote NDT examination in a manufacturing setting. With the project collaborator, Tata Steel, detector performance will be tested in a real world application on safety critical products used in the construction industry.The X-ray imaging system produced as an outcome of this feasibility programme will allow SilverRay to demonstrate their proprietary large area digital film based technology at a scale suitable for many other applications including NDT. This novel breakthrough technology is backed by a US granted patent application, and will be initially adopted to manufacture detectors suitable for NDT applications such as for the safety critical products identified here.