NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY CORROSION DAMAGE

The potential for neutron radiography to detect hydrogenous corrosion products in aircraft structures was examined using a series of naturally and artificially corroded aluminium alloy samples. The sensitivity of this technique for detecting corrosion damage was intially assessed using the Moata reactor facility and commercial neutron radiography services. Neutron radiographs of the corroded samples were obtained using a portable accelerator and a californium-252 isotope source. Reactor, accelerator and isotope neutron radiographs have been compared to assess the sensitivity of portable neutron sources.