SUITABILITY OF NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY FOR THE INSPECTION OF ADVANCED CERAMIC COMPOSITES

The use of advanced ceramic materials as structural components is a rapidly advancing technology. They have, and are continuing to show, great promise as construction materials where the limits of present-day materials are being strained. These advanced ceramics are particularly applicable to corrosive and high temperature environments, and to applications which require lightweight and stable structures. At the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), a neutron radiography Facility was commissioned in 1991 using a small (20 kWth), pool-type research reactor called a SLOWPOKE-2 (Safe LOW Power c(K)ritical Experiment) as the neutron source. Taking advantage of this newly commissioned facility, various ceramic metal composites were examined. The goal of the experimentation was to determine if inspections could be completed on the final products, for characterization and control early in the processing cycle in order to reduce the rejection rate of the final products, and to detect degradation from in-service use. In addition to using RMC's neutron radiography Facility, neutron radiographs of these components were also completed at Chalk River Laboratories for comparison. The final step of the research was to examine the components using X-radiography. The inspection capabilities of the two NDE methods for the inspecting of these advanced ceramic components will be discussed, and the conclusions of the research presented