What type of radiation is primarily used in radiographic testing?

Radiographic testing primarily employs X-ray radiation due to its ability to penetrate materials and produce images of the internal structure of an object. X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that offer high energy and shorter wavelengths compared to other types of radiation, which allows them to pass through dense materials like metals and create detailed images capturing variations in density and defects within the object being inspected.

The ability of X-rays to create high-resolution images makes them particularly valuable in evaluating welds, castings, and structural components in various fields, particularly in safety-critical industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and construction. The controlled use of X-rays ensures that operators can effectively detect flaws while adhering to safety protocols to minimize exposure to radiation.

While gamma radiation is also used in certain applications of radiography, especially in industrial settings and nuclear medicine, X-ray radiation remains the most common and widely practiced method in standard radiographic testing. Other types of radiation, such as ultraviolet and infrared, do not have the required penetrating power to reveal internal features and are not suitable for the purposes of radiographic inspection.