This document discusses the history and development of computed radiography (CR) by ARCTEST, a Brazilian company specializing in non-destructive testing. It outlines how ARCTEST has been a pioneer in developing and improving CR techniques over the past 14+ years, working with various equipment manufacturers to test new systems. The document highlights the advantages of CR over traditional radiography for corrosion inspection and weld inspection, noting that CR provides faster results, less radiation exposure, and digital image archiving and reporting. It presents examples of CR applications for inspection of welds, corrosion, and other defects in various industrial components.

1. Quality with Seriousness !
ENGINNERING SOLUTIONS

2. OUR HISTORY
Arctest was founded in September 1997, when SGS (Societé Generalé de
Surveillance), after 23 years in Brazil, decide to sell the NDT department to the
own CEO in Brazil.
The former CEO Alan Roberto Chanbom invite others directors and managers to
join in the raise of the company, now called ARCtest.
In almost 15 years, Arctest raise your operation status from 80 to 490 technicians
in NDT area.
Today, arctest run with 68 Iridium, 23 Selenium and 2 Cobalt sources, and 3 X-ray
equipments.
With investments, hard work and safe radioprotection, Arctest receive the ISO
9001 seal and became a largest NDT company in Brazil.

4. In the late 80s, seeking medical applications, companies around the world began
to develop a two-dimensional X-ray detector called Image Plate (IP), with the aim
of replacing the traditional radiographic film.
The need to reduce the radiation dosis and provide better image contrast with low
noise is a big incentive to research new products. The rapid replacement of
radiography with intensifying screens for computer systems has brought many
operational advantages, such as the electronic archive of images and post-image
processing.
However, it created the need to acquire new knowledge, concepts and modification
of existing procedures and brought out a new set of problems to be solved.
In computed radiography, the concept of image quality has a new meaning and
interpretation due to their unique attributes, the contrast and brightness of the
final image can be manipulated with the pre-digital signal processing.

5. ARCTEST, as leading-edge company in several new technologies in the field of nondestructive testing
and more specifically in the area of radiographic testing, improved and developed in Brazil the
technique of computed radiography (CR).
For more than 14 years, ARCTEST has been developing, testing and improving new techniques, so there
is a constant cleaning in the area of Radiation Safety and also make the computed radiography (CR) an
important tool, quick, safe and reliable, which undoubtedly in a few years, will replace the currently
used industrial radiography.
This search has been highlighting the pioneering ARCTEST worldwide and is recommended by
manufacturers of RC systems, certification bodies and customers served.
The ARCTEST was the first company worldwide to describe an operational procedure for checking the
physical condition (corrosion), even before bodies such as ASME and BSI create RC Standards.
Already using the RC since August 1998 with Gendex systems, was necessary to qualify the procedure
again when Petrobras launched its standard (N-2820) in December 2007.

6. Also in 2007, Petrobras issued the standard N-2821, where he started, along with
national and international bodies, the process of qualification and validation of welded joints
in RC.
The process took place in three stages, and reached the final after 2.5 years.
First, Petrobras invited to the process six manufacturers of RC systems, including:
Dürr, Kodak, GE, Gendex, CIT and Fuji (declined the invitation)
To operate the systems, were invited companies providing service in the industry:
Arctest and four other companies.
The "division" of the sets was decided as follows:
Arctest represent Gendex and Kodak
Company 2 represent the GE Company
Company 3 represent the company Dürr
Company 4 represent the company CIT
Company 5 (which would represent the Fuji) also ended up representing the Kodak

7. For the qualification process, Petrobras fabricate 756 joints, all with flaws, divided into
four sets of 21 spools with 9 joints each.
Each spool had a combination of diameter x thickness.
Phase 1 – X-ray of 5 diameter x thickness different joints.
At this stage all service providers performed radiographs.
Gendex Equipment (represented by Arctest) failed the tests.
Phase 2 - Radiograph of 21 spools with RC and RG for comparison, using X-rays, and
Iridium Selenium (In Bunker)
The second company did not reach the level of quality equipment Dürr, which
transferred to the representation of Arctest.
The third company initially tried a partnership with Arctest, but ended up passing the
equipment for the CIT Arctest finalize the process.
At this stage no equipment could reach the level of quality required by gamma rays
(Iridium and Selenium). Only with the use of X-ray

8. For the next phase, there were only:
ARCtest (Dürr, Kodak and CIT) and the 5th Company (GE).
Thereafter the CIT would request the equipment back to England, giving up the 3rd
phase of qualification.
Stage 3 - Radiograph of 21 spools with RC ( On Site)
At this stage Arctest complete the process qualifying 19 (of 21) combinations for the
Kodak system and 19 combinations for the Dürr system.
The company 5 completed the qualifying 5 combinations with GE equipment.
After the process, SNQC (National Qualification and Certification System) presented
the results at the congress NDT and Technical Diagnostics in Russia.
Arctest starts the Ecovap project, executing 731 joints from February to September
2010.

9. CR DEVELOPMENT
Today, due to the know-how given to ARCTEST, RC system manufacturers use this acquired
knowledge to develop their products, with examples:
KODAK
- Analysis of Software for better optimize to daily operations
-Tests with the new system HPX-1
-- Comparative tests between commercial IP and IP under development (BL / WH)
GE
- Partnership with Eletronuclear, carrying out several tests with GE systems.
- Tests with the new CRFlex and CR 25
VMI
- FMC Client. VMI scanner Operation on Rio de Janeiro site, after recommendation from
Petrobras.

10. ADVANTAGES FOR CR CLIENT
CORROSION
- Ability to inspection in unfavorable diameters for other tests
- Precision measurement of the deviations
- Increased availability of information
- Detectability of deviations of any kind;
- Loss of wall thickness
- Foreign body inside part or pipe
- Manufacturing defects in assembly lines
- Design error
- Receiving of parts
- There is no need to remove the painting / insulation / jacket
-- Reduction of isolated area
-- There are no chemicals in the process of image acquisition.
- Interaction Client / Execution
- Shipping and image archiving

11. CORROSION
CR APPLICATION
Source: Iridium 192
Activity : 14 Ci
SFD: 600mm
Exposure : 10 Seconds
Pipe with water and 120°c
Service fluid pipes, with several corrosion process and thickness
loss, especially on external curve.
Lack of penetration on
weld

12. 70MM MISSILE
BOILER BLOWER AUTO PARTS
PITTINGS SAMPLE THREADED JOINT
NAFTENIC CORROSION
EXPANSION CRACK
AIRCRAFT FUELING SYSTEM
PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION

13. PUNCTUAL EROSION FIBERGLASSDEPOSIT OF MATERIAL
INSULATED MATERIAL DEPOSITSEVERAL INTERNAL CORROSION

14. Welds
Diameter x thickness combinations
For the initial use of the RC in welds were qualified thickness ranges according to the scope
of work, which consisted in pipes of ¾ "to 3 ½" of 40 to XXS schedules.
The test are not limited to these combinations, but for use in other combinations should be
followed the validation processes, by the following steps:
- Computerized Radiography for one or more specimens with defects.
- Comparison to conventional radiography
- Fill RQPEND (NDT Process Qualification Report)
- Send to SNQC for evaluation and release
CR APPLICATIONS

15. Weld
- Top speed in obtaining results
- Lower area isolation
- Loss of exposures far below than RT
- Features information and mapping with high accuracy
- Images viewing resources
- Standardized reports
- Remote Monitoring of work
- Less physical storage space use
ADVANTAGES FOR CR CLIENT

16. 0,5” WITH POROSITY
0,75” WITH POROSITY
0,75” WITHOUT DEFECT

17. 1” WITH CRACK AND POROSITY 1” WITH POROSITY1” WITH CRACK
1” WITH CRACKS 2” WITH CRACKS1,5” WITH
POROSITY AND
CRACK

18. 2” WITH POROSITY AND
CRACK
10” WITH POROSITY,
CRACKS AND LACK OF
PENETRATION 2” WITH POROSITY AND
CRACK
(CLICK ON IMAGE TO EXPAND)

19. INTERACTIVE REPORT
The CR report is issued in two ways:
Conventional format, where after printing the document is signed by Level II
In this format, you can include the sketch of the part and / or radiographic image in the
report.
Digital Interactive format, where the customer receives the report in digital format,
where possible, via hyperlink, access the drawing of the plant, where it was exposed,
spot photography and the image with just one click.

20. REACTOR ID REFERENCE PLACE Diameter Material Isolation Scaffold
Nominal
Thickness
Minimum
Thickness
Thickness
Found
Report
004 1 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-579 Drain HV-11004.1 1" A335 P12 yes no 3,4 1,5 2,9 072/14
004 2 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-579 PI HV-11004.1 3/4" A335 P12 yes no 2,9 1,5 3 072/14
004 3 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-579 Purge Entry N-150 3/4" A335 P12 no yes 2,9 1,5 2,4 072/14
004 4 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-517 2º purge N-150 3/4" A335 P12 yes yes 2,9 1,5 3,8 072/14
004 6 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-580 Drain 112102.3 2" A335 P1 yes yes 3,9 2,0 6,1 072/14
004 7 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-578 Entry line N-50 1" A335 P12 yes yes 3,4 1,5 7,6 072/14
004 8 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-621 Vent 2I 11023.3 1 1/2" A53 GrA no no 3,7 1,5 3,3 072/14
004 9 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-522 Spool PI 11534.3 3/4" A106 GrB yes no 2,9 1,5 3,4 072/14
004 10 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-574 Drain carbon 2" A53 GrA no yes 3,9 2,0 2,3 072/14
004 11 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-574 Drain carbon 2" A53 GrA no no 3,9 2,0 2,7 072/14
004 12 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-561 Flushing line 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 3,5 072/14
004 13 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-569 Drain Mont. LV 11006.3 1" A53 GrA no no 3,4 1,5 2,8 072/14
004 14 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-569 Flushing Mont. LV 11006.3 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 2,7 072/14
004 15 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-562 Flushing line washing 1" A106 GrB yes no 3,4 1,5 2,8 072/14
004 16 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-562 Auxiliary Flushing line 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 3,9 083/14
004 17 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Main line LT 11006 H 2" A106 GrB no no 3,9 2,0 5,7 083/14
004 22 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Main line LT 11006 L 2" A106 GrB no no 3,9 2,0 3,5 083/14
004 23 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Entry H LI 11506.3 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 1,5 083/14
004 24 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Entry L LI 11506.4 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 3,2 083/14
004 25 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Entry H LI 11506.5 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 1,3 083/14
004 26 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Entry L LI 11506.6 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 1,5 083/14
004 27 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-565 Main Line LT 11006.1 tom. H 2" A106 GrB no no 3,9 2,0 2,2 083/14
004 28 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-550 Permanent Flushing LT 11006.1 entry 1" A106 GrB no no 3,4 1,5 3,4 083/14
004 29 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-521 Entry PI 11536.4 3/4" A106 GrB no no 2,9 1,5 3,6 083/14
004 30 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-521 Mount SP 28703.4 2" A106 GrB no yes 3,9 2,0 6 083/14
004 101 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-521 Valve HV 11007.4 1" A106 GrB no yes 3,4 1,5 3,6 083/14
004 32 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-564 Entry PDT 11011/17.4 3/4" A106 GrB no yes 2,9 1,5 2,9 083/14
004 33 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-564 Entry PDT 11011.4 L 3/4" A106 GrB no yes 2,9 1,5 2,5 083/14
004 34 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-564 Entry L PDT 11011/17.4 3/4" A106 GrB no yes 2,9 1,5 2,9 083/14
004 35 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-564 Entry L PDT 11017.4 3/4" A106 GrB no yes 2,9 1,5 3,3 083/14
004 36 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-513 Entry PT 11012.4 3/4" A106 GrB yes no 2,9 1,5 3,7 083/14
004 45 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-571 Curve Line 04 2" A234 WPA yes yes 3,9 2,0 4,2 087/14
004 48 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-571 Curve Line 05 1" A234 WPA yes no 3,4 1,5 5 087/14
004 49 IS-971-1-287-202 NAE-571 Block Line 04 2"x1" A234 WPA yes no 3,4 1,5 2,5 087/14
ISOMETRIC
INSPECTION PLAN
Client:
Equipment:
Site:
Manufacturer:
Clicking on a inspected item , a map will open

21. Clicking on a camera icon, a photo will open

23. Clicking on a highlighted area, the radiography will open

25. Both for corrosion than for weld, we can understand the need to replace the RT
by CR in the world.
Each and every process in the world continues at an incredible speed of
modernization, technology, improvements and standardization.
THE FUTURE OF CR
For further information, fell free to contact me.
Mario Moura Jr
Computed Radiography Coordinator
mario.moura@arctest.com.br
Phone: +5519 99935-1180

26. Quality with seriousness !!!
ENGINNERING SOLUTIONS