industrial

In a modern industrial society practically every industry uses radioactive materials. Because of the inherent properties of radiation and radioactivity, industry has been able to develop and use radiation in a variety of different ways, for example:

• Sensitive gauges to measure the thickness and density of materials.
• Non-destructive imaging devices to inspect materials for weaknesses and flaws.
• Small amounts of radioactivity used as tracers to track leakage from systems, monitor the rate of engine wear and corrosion of processing equipment, observe the velocity of materials through pipes and gauge system filtration efficiency.
• Anti-static devices to reduce the risk of fire and ensure charge free surfaces in the paint and plastics industries.
Radiation detection instruments are used widely, because they make it possible to take measurements without direct physical contact with the substance being measured.

Other industrial uses of radioactive materials:

• The automobile industry uses radioactive materials to test the quality of steel in cars.
• Aircraft manufacturers use radiation to check for flaws in jet engines.
• Mining and petroleum companies use radionuclides to locate and quantify mineral deposits.
• Can manufacturers use radioactive materials to obtain the proper thickness of tin and aluminium
• Pipeline companies use radioactive materials to look for defects in welds.
• Oil, gas and mining companies use radioactive materials to map geological contours, using test wells and mine bores, and to determine the presence of hydrocarbons.
• Construction crews use radioactive materials to gauge the density of road surfaces and subsurfaces.