Method to enhance X-ray and optical images and locate nano-scale cracks in electric devices and components
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an image enhancer that can be applied to various materials during quality testing. The image enhancer is adapted to infiltrate cracks, crevices, fractures, fissures, and other faults, defects, or flaws in the material and provide an increased contrast for images taken by, for example, an X-ray imaging device.
1. A method of verifying the quality of a product, comprising:
receiving a product comprising at least one of a plastic and a ceramic;
applying a selected image enhancer to at least a portion of the product, wherein the selected image enhancer is configured to absorb more X-rays than the at least one of plastic and ceramic of the product, wherein applying comprises utilizing a syringe or pipette to apply the selected image enhancer to the product;
after applying the image enhancer to the at least a portion of the product and prior to capturing the X-ray image, allowing the image enhancer to crystallize; and
removing excess crystals from a surface of the product prior to capturing an X-ray image of the at least a portion of the product;
capturing the X-ray image of the at least a portion of the product that has had the selected image enhancer applied thereto; and
identifying by the image enhancer, a defect in the product.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises identifying an area of contrast having a non-uniform shape.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the image comprises utilizing an X-ray image-capturing device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the X-ray image-capturing device is operated between about 50 kV and about 150 kV at about 5 uA to about 60 uA.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image enhancer comprises a waterborne composition comprising at least some water and at least one of a metallic powder and salt.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of a metallic powder and salt comprises elements with a K-shell electron binding energy between about 30 and about 100 K edge.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one of a metallic powder and salt comprises Barium in the form of at least one of barium iodide hydrate and barium chloride dihydrate.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image enhancer comprises at least one of water, a metallic powder, a metallic salt, a solid dispersant, an amine solubilizer, and a co-solvent.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the image enhancer comprises at least one of the metallic powder and metallic salt in at least one of solution and dispersion form.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the image enhancer comprises utilizing at least one of a pipette, a hypodermic syringe, and automated dispenser to apply the image enhancer to the at least a portion of the product.