Designation: E 592 99 (Reapproved 2004)

Standard Guide to

Obtainable ASTM Equivalent Penetrameter Sensitivity for Radiography of Steel Plates 14 to 2 in. [6 to 51 mm] Thick with X Rays and 1 to 6 in. [25 to 152 mm] Thick with Cobalt-601
This standard is issued under the xed designation E 592; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 1.1 This guide to obtainable equivalent penetrameter sensitivity covers the minimum penetrameter thicknesses for which the image of the 1T and 2T holes is visible for a few practical radiographic conditions. The values represent near optimum sensitivity for at steel plates. Radiographic conditions that give higher values of scatter buildup from the specimen or backscattered radiation at the image plane will give poorer sensitivity. 1.2 Eight radiographs that illustrate sensitivities obtainable with practical radiographic systems are included as adjuncts to this guide and may be obtained from ASTM. 1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in brackets are for information only. 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 2. Referenced Documents 2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 E 746 Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Film E 999 Guide for Controlling the Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film Processing E 1025 Practice for Design, Manufacture, and Material Grouping Classication of Hole-Type Image Quality Indi1 This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.02 on Reference Radiographs. Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published July 2004. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as E 592 - 99. 2 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on the ASTM website.

cators (IQI) Used for Radiology E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations 2.2 ISO Standard: ISO 7004 PhotographyIndustrial Radiographic Films Determination of ISO Speed, ISO Average Gradient, and ISO Gradients G2 adn G4 When Exposed to X- and Gamma-Radiation3 2.3 Military Standard: MIL-STD-271 Nondestructive Testing Requirements for Metals4 2.4 ASTM Adjuncts: Guide for Equivalent Penetrameter Sensitivity Between X Rays and Cobalt-605 3. Terminology 3.1 Denitions: For denitions of terms used in this standard, refer to Terminology E 1316, Section D. 4. Signicance and Use 4.1 A key consideration with any radiographic system is its capability to resolve detail (that is, sensitivity). The degree of obtainable sensitivity with a given system is dependent upon several radiographic parameters such as source energy level, lm type, type and thickness of intensifying screens, exposure (density), etc. This guide permits the user to estimate the degree of sensitivity that may be obtained with X rays and cobalt-60 gamma rays when using a prescribed set of radiographic parameters. This guide may also be used in conjunction with Test Method E 746 to provide a basis for developing data for evaluation of a users specic system. This data may assist a user in determining appropriate parameters for obtaining desired degrees of radiographic system sensitivity. An

3 Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036. 4 Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS. 5 Available from ASTM Headquarters. Order RRE0592.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

E 592 99 (2004)

NOTE 1See 5.1.3 for exposure conditions.

FIG. 1 Obtainable Penetrameter Sensitivity for 14 to 2-in. [6 to 51-mm] Thick Steel When Radiographing with X Rays.

alternate to this approach is the use of those adjunct radiographic illustrations detailed in Section 6. 5. Procedure 5.1 Sensitivity for 14 to 2-in. [6 to 51-mm] Thick Steel Using X Rays: 5.1.1 The values of sensitivity were determined from a statistical study of visibility of images of penetrameter holes. Near 100 % certainty of seeing the image of a hole on any radiograph was taken as the criterion for determining sensitivity. Most radiographs will show slightly better sensitivity than indicated in Figs. 1-3 because of the statistical nature of recording information from a beam of X rays but occasionally, one will not show quite as good sensitivity. 5.1.2 Fig. 1 illustrates obtainable equivalent penetrameter sensitivity (see Appendix X1 of Practice E 1025) for four X-ray lms. The lms are identied by reciprocal roentgen speed when exposed in accordance with ISO 7004 in a 200-kV range, and processed in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations (see Guide E 999).
Film No. 1 2 3 4 Speed 17 4.0 1.2 0.35

NOTE 1See 5.1.3 for exposure conditions.

FIG. 2 Penetrameter Sensitivity and Minimum Penetrameter Markings for Showing the 2T Hole When Radiographing 14 to 2-in. [6 to 51-mm] Thick Steel with X Rays.

5.1.3 The radiographic exposure conditions were: 36-in. [914-mm] focus-lm distance, 5-mil [0.13-mm] front and 10-mil [0.25-mm] back lead screens, 20 mAmin exposure, and kilovoltage adjusted to give a density of near 2.0. 5.1.4 Most high-quality industrial X-ray lms intended for direct or lead screen exposure, that are exposed and developed accordingly to give these speed values, will provide similar illustrations of sensitivity. Interpolation will give illustrations of sensitivity for speeds obtained with other lm systems.
2

5.1.5 In Fig. 2 the data are presented to show the thinnest penetrameter for which the image of the 2T hole will be visible. The intersection of the line for a particular steel thickness and the line for a given lm projected onto the abscissa gives the best obtainable equivalent penetrameter sensitivity. The intersection projected to the left ordinate gives the minimum penetrameter marking (thickness in mils) in accordance with Practice E 1025 for which the image of the 2T hole will be

E 592 99 (2004)
where: d = diameter of penetrameter hole, T = thickness of penetrameter, and t = specimen thickness. The change in slope of the steel thickness curves on Figs. 2 and 3 is a result of the established 10-mil minimum hole diameter.

NOTE 1See 5.1.3 for exposure conditions.

FIG. 3 Penetrameter Sensitivity and Minimum Penetrameter Markings for Showing the 1T Hole When Radiographing 14 to 2-in. [6 to 51-mm] Thick Steel with X Rays.

5.2 Sensitivity for 1 to 6-in. [25 to 152-mm] Thick Steel Using Cobalt-60: 5.2.1 For cobalt-60 radiography of steel, the variables that affect image quality and that can be controlled are the speed of the lm and the recording of scattered radiation relative to the recording of image-forming radiation. The relative recording of scatter (the scatter buildup factor) can be decreased by the use of lead ltration between the specimen and the lm or by the use of low-atomic-number metal screens. Either method gives nearly equal improvement in image quality for a given increase in exposure. 5.2.2 Radiographs of at steel plates were made either with 10-mil [0.25-mm] thick front and back lead or copper screens. A30-Ci source, 4 by 4 mm, was used with a setup designed to give maximum buildup of scatter in the specimen and no backscatter. The source-to-lm distance was 36 in. [914 mm]. The exposure was adjusted for a density near 2.0. 5.2.3 The four lms used are identied by reciprocal roentgen speed when exposed in accordance with ISO 7004 using cobalt-60 radiation and processed in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.
Film No. Speed 3.5 0.67 0.13 0.04 1 2 3 4

visible. The right ordinate gives the minimum marking in accordance with MIL-STD-271 for which the image of the 2T hole will be visible. 5.1.6 Fig. 3 gives the ASTM and military markings for which the image of the 1T hole will be visible. 5.1.7 To take an example, on Fig. 2 the intersection of the curve for 1-in. [25-mm] thick steel and for Film No. 2 shows that the penetrameter sensitivity is 1.45 %. The minimum ASTM penetrameter thickness that will show the 2T hole image is 15. The corresponding military marking is 0.75 (see dashed lines). On Fig. 3 the sensitivity is, of course, 1.45 %. The minimum ASTM penetrameter thickness that will show the 1T hole image is 22 and the military specication marking is 1.1. 5.1.8 If radiographs are exposed to a density other than 2 by changing mAmin exposure, but not kilovoltage, the equivalent penetrameter sensitivity (EPS) that will be obtained in the density range 1.3 to 4 can be calculated approximately as follows:
EPSD 5 EPS2 ~2/D!1 / 4 (1)

5.2.4 Fig. 4 shows equivalent penetrameter sensitivity obtainable for 1 and 4-in. [25 and 102-mm] thick steel as a function of exposure in curie minutes. Fig. 5 shows equivalent penetrameter sensitivity obtainable for 2 and 6-in. [51 and 152-mm] thick steel as a function of exposure. The numbers on the curves indicate the various radiographic exposures shown in Table 1. 5.2.5 The lms, screens, and exposures used for the radiographs were as specied in Table 1. 6. Descriptions and Suggested Uses of Reference Radiographic Illustrations (See 1.2) 6.1 Eight radiographs were chosen to illustrate sensitivities obtainable with practical radiographic systems. Table 2 lists lms and exposure conditions for reference illustrations Nos. 1 through 6 (for X-ray) and Table 1 lists lms and exposure conditions for illustrations Nos. 7 and 8 (for cobalt 60). The radiographic illustrations for cobalt correspond to radiographs Nos. 9 and 12 in Table 1 and Fig. 4. 6.2 Each radiographic illustration has an array of ASTM penetrameters on the right-hand side and a corresponding array of steel plaques containing holes of varying diameters on the left-hand side. Illustrations Nos. 1 through 6 contain plaques which represent 2 % of steel thicknesses radiographed and each has ten holes of a given diameter. Illustrations Nos. 7 and 8 contain plaques 0.060-in. [1.51-mm] thick, and each has 10
3

where: D = density to which the radiograph is exposed, EPS2 = sensitivity for D = 2.0, and EPSD = sensitivity for D.
NOTE 1A clear denition of equivalent penetrameter sensitivity has not been established for penetrameters less than 10 mils [0.25 mm] thick. For this work it was calculated as follows: EPS, % 5 70.7 ~dT!1 / 2/t (2)

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NOTE 1The numbers on curves refer to exposure conditions given in Table 1.

FIG. 4 Obtainable Penetrameter Sensitivity for Cobalt-60 Radiography of 1 and 4-in. [25 and 102-mm] Thick Steel at 36-in. [914-mm] Distance.

NOTE 1The numbers on curves refer to exposure conditions given in Table 1.

FIG. 5 Obtainable Penetrameter Sensitivity for Cobalt-60 Radiography of 2 and 6-in. [51 and 152-mm] Steel at 36-in. [914mm] Distance.

and 15 holes respectively of a given diameter. The plaque for which all hole images are just visible represent near limiting penetrameter sensitivity. 6.3 Reference radiographs Nos. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the visibility of penetrameter holes for radiography of 12 , 1, and 112-in. [13, 25, and 38-mm] thick steel using lm No. 2. The exposure conditions were as specied in 5.1.3.

6.4 Reference radiograph No. 4 illustrates penetrameter sensitivity for 12-in. [13-mm] steel using lm No. 4. A comparison of reference radiograph Nos. 1 and 4 illustrates the effect of lm speed on penetrameter sensitivity for a constant milliampere-minute exposure with adjusted kilovoltage. 6.5 A comparison of reference radiographs Nos. 1, 5, and 6 illustrates the effects on penetrameter sensitivity of changing

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TABLE 1 Description of Cobalt-60 Radiographs Cited in Figs. 4 and 5
Thickness of Steel 1 in. [25 mm] Radiograph 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Film 2 2 3 4 1 2 2 3 1 2 2 3 1 1 2 2 Screens lead copper lead copper copper lead copper copper copper lead copper copper lead copper lead copper Exposure, Cimin 130 240 770 3 100 70 260 510 3 020 380 1 430 2 800 15 700 1 2 7 16 140 240 800 000

TABLE 2 Description of Reference Radiographs Using X Rays

NOTE 1The focus-lm distance was 36 in. [914 mm] and the kilovoltage was adjusted to give a density near 2.0 on all of the radiographs described below.
Radiograph No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thickness of Steel, in. [mm] [13] 1 [25] 112 [38] 12 [13] 12 [13] 12 [13]
12

Film No. 2 2 2 4 2 2

Exposure, mAmin 20 20 20 20 2.5 160

2 in. [51 mm]

4 in. [102 mm]

7. Precision and Bias 7.1 No statement is made about either the precision or bias of Guide E 592, since the guide merely provides information for estimating sensitivity values or for performing a user specic evaluation of a radiographic system. 8. Keywords 8.1 cobalt 60; density; equivalent penetrameter sensitivity; exposure; reference radiographic illustrations; X rays

6 in. [152 mm]

exposure (2.5, 20, and 160 mA . min) for a given lm by adjusting kilovoltage to maintain lm density at 2.0. 6.6 Reference radiographs Nos. 7 and 8 are illustrations of results obtained for cobalt-60 sources of radiation. They illustrate the extremes in sensitivity for radiography of 4-in. [102-mm] thick steel.

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