ASTM E746-07(2014)
Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems

Standard No.

ASTM E746-07(2014)

Release Date

2007

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM E746-17

Latest

ASTM E746-23

Scope

4.1 This standard provides a practice for RIQR evaluations of film and non-film imaging systems when exposed through steel or plastic materials. Three alternate data evaluation methods are provided in Section 9. Determining RIQR requires the comparison of at least two radiographs or radiographic processes whereby the relative degree of image quality difference may be determined using the EPS plaque arrangement of Fig. 1 as a relative image quality indicator (RIQI). In conjunction with the RIQI, a specified radiographic technique or method must be established and carefully controlled for each radiographic process. This practice is designed to allow the determination of subtle changes in EPS that may arise to radiographic imaging system performance levels resultant from process improvements/changes or change of equipment attributes. This practice does not address relative unsharpness of a radiographic imaging system as provided in Practice E2002. The common element with any relative comparison is the use of the same RIQI arrangement for both processes under evaluation.

4.2 In addition to the standard evaluation method described in Section 9, there may be other techniques/methods in which the basic RIQR arrangement of Fig. 1 might be utilized to perform specialized assessments of relative image quality performance. For example, other radiographic variables can be altered to facilitate evaluations provided these differences are known and documented for both processes. Where multiple radiographic process variables are evaluated, it is incumbent upon the user of this practice to control those normal process attributes to the degree suitable for the application. Specialized RIQR techniques may also be useful with micro focus X-ray, isotope sources of radiation or with the use of non-film radiographic imaging systems. RIQR may also be useful in evaluating imaging systems with alternate materials (RIQI and base plate) such as copper-nickel or aluminum. When using any of these specialized applications, the specific method or techniques used shall be as specified and approved by the cognizant engineering authority.

1.1 This standard provides a practice whereby industrial radiographic imaging systems may be comparatively assessed using the concept of relative image quality response (RIQR). The RIQR method presented within this practice is based upon the use of equivalent penetrameter sensitivity (EPS) described within Practice E1025 and subsection 5.2 of this practice. Figure 1 illustrates a relative image quality indicator (RIQI) that has four different steel plaque thicknesses (.015, .010, .008, and .005 in.) sequentially positioned (from top to bottom) on a ³/₄-in. thick steel plate. The four plaques contain a total of 14 different arrays of penetrameter-type hole sizes designed to render varied conditions of threshold visibility ranging from 1.928201;% EPS (at the top) to .948201;% EPS (at the bottom) when exposed to nominal 200 keV X-ray radiation. Each “EPS” array consists of 30 identical holes; thus, providing the user with a quantity of threshold sensitivity levels suitable for relative image qualitative response comparisons.

FIG. 1 Relative Image Quality Indicator

<......

ASTM E746-07(2014) Referenced Document

• ASTM B152/B152M Standard Specification for Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Rolled Bar
• ASTM E1025 Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, and Material Grouping Classification of Hole-Type Image Quality Indicators (IQI) Used for Radiology
• ASTM E1079 Standard Practice for Calibration of Transmission Densitometers
• ASTM E1316 Standard Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
• ASTM E1735 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film Exposed to X-Radiation from 4 to 25 MV
• ASTM E1815 Standard Test Method for Classification of Film Systems for Industrial Radiography
• ASTM E2002 Standard Practice for Determining Total Image Unsharpness in Radiology
• ASTM E999 Standard Guide for Controlling the Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film Processing
• ISO 5-2 Photography and graphic technology - Density measurements - Part 2: Geometric conditions for transmittance density
• ISO 7004 Photography - Industrial radiographic films - Determination of ISO speed, ISO average gradient and ISO gradients G2 and 64 when exposed to X- and gamma-radiation

ASTM E746-07(2014) history

• 2023 ASTM E746-23 Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems below 4 MeV
• 2018 ASTM E746-18 Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems
• 2017 ASTM E746-17 Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems
• 2007 ASTM E746-07(2014) Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems
• 2007 ASTM E746-07 Standard Practice for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Imaging Systems
• 2002 ASTM E746-02 Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Film
• 1993 ASTM E746-93(1998) Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Image Quality Response of Industrial Radiographic Film