next Neutron Imaging Training April 1-3, 2025Learn More
Additive manufacturing, also known as “3D printing”, is a revolutionary new method to quickly, easily, and affordably fabricate components. Using this method, manufacturers can rapidly design (and redesign) prototypes or create components from composites in a way that would traditionally be extremely difficult.
Composite materials, which often combine denser and lighter materials to create new substances with distinct properties of both, help drive innovation in manufacturing, especially in aerospace. Traditional, commonly used radiography methods (such as X-rays) aren’t always capable of visualizing the composition of these materials.
Neutron imaging has the potential to revolutionize the auto industry by detecting flaws in products that traditional X-rays and CT scans might miss. However, a historical reliance on a limited number of research reactors has made it costly and difficult to implement. With Phoenix, neutron imaging has become more accessible, with lessened regulatory burdens, allowing manufacturers to take advantage of its benefits. In particular, neutron imaging can help those in the auto industry catch critical flaws in components during quality assurance tests, potentially preventing large-scale recalls and saving manufacturers billions of dollars in the long run.
The medical industry, like the aerospace industry, has an extremely high standard of quality in their supply chain due to the criticality of their mission. Neutron imaging offers a way to safely inspect medical devices such as pre-filled syringes and 3D printed medical implants where more common non-destructive testing methods fall short.
