RADIOACTIVE SOURCES: IRIDIUM-192
NTP produces and supplies high-purity activated iridium-192 sources and equipment together with specialist transport, storage, safety and disposal services.
NTP produces high-purity (>99.9%) activated iridium-192 (Ir-192), manufactured in accordance with strict IAEA standards and in compliance with NTP’s ISO 9001:2015 certification. Our stainless steel Ir-192 capsules are individually welded and tested to comply with Special Form certifications, and can be supplied in standard nominal activity strengths from 30 Ci to 120 Ci, or in custom activity doses.
Ir-192 sealed sources are primarily used for non-destructive testing gamma radiography-based applications. Ir-192 sealed sources produce film resolution and exposures of exceptional quality compared to other sealed sources used in similar applications. Sources manufactured by NTP are suitable for most types of radiography projectors. In order to ensure the safe use, storage, and disposal of Ir-192 sources NTP also employs suitably trained and qualified personnel to handle emergency retrieval of sources as and when required, conduct leak tests on both sources and equipment, and handle the disposal of depleted NTP-manufactured sources.
Atomic information: Iridium-192
Isotope name: Iridium-192
Appearance: Dense platinum-coloured metal, supplied in [sealed] stainless steel metal pellets
Half-life: 74 days
Emits: Beta particles and gamma radiation. Strong gamma ray emitter.
Used in: Industrial radiography and radiotherapy such as brachytherapy
Decays to: Platinum-192
About Ir-192
Ir-192 is most commonly used in non-destructive industrial gamma radiography applications. High-energy gamma rays function almost like X-rays, but can pass through certain materials that X-rays cannot. Sealed gamma ray sources are placed inside mobile radiography equipment, called projectors or cameras, which can be handled remotely. Gamma rays are passed through the material being “photographed” (radiographed), and onto a film, creating a radiograph image. This technique can be used to test pipelines – to see the thickness of the walls, and check for cracks – and check the integrity of welds.