Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Computational and Experimental analysis of neutron radiography images for Aluminum- and Polyethylene-Based samples

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Zohreh Gholamzadeh
Behrooz Rokrok
Reza Ebrahimzadeh
Hamid Saebi
Pooneh Tayyebi
Mohammadhossein Mansouri
Mojtaba Afshani

Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute‎, ‎Tehran‎, ‎Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2026.574840.1342
Abstract
Neutron radiography is a powerful nondestructive imaging technique widely used at research reactors for industrial and scientific applications. In this study, image formation in neutron radiography was investigated using both computational and experimental approaches. The MCNPX Monte Carlo code was employed to simulate image formation in the film emulsion layer for polyethylene (PE) and aluminum (Al) samples irradiated by the neutron beam of the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). The samples contained 1-mm-diameter holes filled with air, iron, copper, tin, and lead to evaluate image contrast and spatial resolution. The results show that the sample-converter-film configuration provides superior image quality for the investigated samples. Moreover, the spatial distribution of the (n, γ) reaction rate in the gadolinium converter accurately predicts the radiographic image produced by transmitted neutrons before experimental irradiation. Experimental measurements indicate that the MX125 radiographic film provides higher image contrast and spatial resolution for the investigated polyethylene sample than the CCD-based digital imaging system, whereas the latter significantly reduces imaging time and enables digital image processing and three-dimensional reconstruction. In the case of Aluminum sample, the CCD imaging performance is better regarding CNR parameter.

Highlights

  • Neutron radiography is a useful tool to develop the industry and research needs.
  • TRR radiography laboratory with neutron/gamma beam is used for image formation of different samples.
  • Simulation methods well predict the sample image before practical tests.
  • Both film-based and digital-based neutron radiography methods are used to obtain an image with the best quality.

Keywords

Neutron radiography
Image formation
Monte Carlo simulation
Silver Halide X-ray film
Digital CCD imaging

Copyright
RPE is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no potential conflict of interest regarding the publication of this work‎.

Funding
‎The authors declare that no funds‎, ‎grants‎, ‎or other financial support were received during the preparation of this manuscript‎.

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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 7, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 75-84

  • Receive Date 09 February 2026
  • Revise Date 03 September 2026
  • Accept Date 12 September 2026

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