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

SilverRay有限公司是一家初创公司，其主要目标是开发用于生产实际应用的大面积高灵敏度x射线探测器的专有技术。这项专利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，并为复杂表面提供了出色的成型。此外，该技术已检测到从60千伏到6毫伏的宽能量范围内的x辐射，使其适用于各种终端应用，如医疗放射照相、无损检测和安全边境控制等。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。由于其昂贵和脆弱，探测器不能弯曲，需要小心使用其刚性形式。这与传统的和广泛使用的柔性摄影胶片技术形成了对比，后者允许访问物体的复杂部分/角落，但不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射线敏感墨水”组成，其中包含两种元素：有机材料和无机纳米颗粒的互穿网络。这种“x射线敏感油墨”可用于在各种基材上涂覆x射线敏感的像素化薄膜，包括柔性探测器的开发。到目前为止，SilverRay有限公司已经成功开发了小面积探测器（<1 cm2）。当前项目的目标是将该技术扩展到适合无损检测应用中的x射线成像的大面积（8x2.5 cm2）、多像素、数字设备。将开发读出电子器件，允许在制造环境中进行远程无损检测。与项目合作伙伴塔塔钢铁公司合作，探测器的性能将在建筑行业使用的安全关键产品的实际应用中进行测试。作为该可行性计划的结果，生产的x射线成像系统将允许SilverRay展示其专有的基于大面积数字胶片的技术，该技术适用于许多其他应用，包括无损检测。这项新颖的突破性技术得到了美国授权专利申请的支持，最初将用于制造适合无损检测应用的探测器，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.