Industry Use

Radioactive materials are used to inspect metal parts and the integrity of welds across a range of industries. For example, new wind turbine towers are checked by placing the radioactive source inside the pipe and the film outside the welds.

Gauges containing radioactive (usually gamma) sources are in wide use in all industries where levels of gasses, liquids, and solids must be checked. They measure the amount of radiation from a source which has been absorbed in materials. These gauges are most useful where heat, pressure, or corrosive substances, such as molten glass or molten metal, make it impossible or difficult to use direct contact gauges.

The ability to use radioisotopes to accurately measure thickness is widely utilized in the production of sheet materials, including metal, textiles, paper, plastics, and others. Density gauges are used where automatic control of a liquid, powder, or solid is important, for example in detergent manufacture.