Patent ID: 9528952
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: G01N,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A method of nondestructively detecting a structural defect in a surface of an irradiated material comprising the steps of: applying a mixture of a noncorrosive crack penetrant including chemical species that have relatively large cross-sections for fast neutron induced prompt gamma emission interactions of a defined energy to the surface of the material to be examined; irradiating the surface of the material with a neutron pulse generator; positioning a plurality of beta radiation detectors tuned to the defined energy of photo-electrically produced electrons generated in an electron generating window located between an active region of the detector and the surface being examined, in a regular pattern over the surface of the material to which the mixture is applied, the plurality of beta radiation detectors respectively providing an output indicative of a reception of the prompt gamma release of the defined energy in an area of the surface viewed by a corresponding one of the beta radiation detectors; and employing the receptions to map a characteristic of the defect.