ASTM E999-20

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E999 − 15 E999 − 20
Standard Guide for
Controlling the Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film
Processing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E999; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide establishes guidelines that may be used for the control and maintenance of industrial radiographic film
processing equipment and materials. Effective use of these guidelines aidaids in controlling the consistency and quality of
industrial radiographic film processing.
1.2 Use of this guide is limited to the processing of films for industrial radiography. This guide includes procedures for
wet-chemical processes and dry processing techniques.
1.3 The necessity of applying specific control procedures such as those described in this guide is dependent, to a certain extent,
on the degree to which a facility adheres to good processing practices as a matter of routine procedure.
1.4 If a nondestructive testing agency as described in PracticeSpecification E543 is used to perform the examination, the testing
agency shallshould meet the requirements of PracticeSpecification E543.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
federal and local codes prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E94 Guide for Radiographic Examination Using Industrial Radiographic Film
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
E1079 Practice for Calibration of Transmission Densitometers
E1254 Guide for Storage of Radiographs and Unexposed Industrial Radiographic Films
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
E1815 Test Method for Classification of Film Systems for Industrial Radiography
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 11699-1 Non-destructive testing—Industrial radio- graphic films—Part 1: Classification of film systems for industrial
radiography
ISO 11699-2 NondestructiveNon-destructive testing—Industrial Radiographic Film—Partradiographic films—Part 2: Control of
film processing by means of references values.values
ISO 18917 Photography—Determination of residual thiosulfate and other related chemicals in processed photographic
materials—Methods using iodine amylose, methylene blue,blue and silver sulfide
2.3 ANSI Standards:
IT 2.26 ANSI/PIMA IT 2.26-1998 Photography—Photographic Materials– Determination Materials—Determination of Safe-
light Conditions
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.01 on Radiology (X and
Gamma) Method.
Current edition approved June 1, 2015June 1, 2020. Published June 2015July 2020. Originally approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 20102015 as
E999E999 – 15. –10. DOI: 10.1520/E0999-15.10.1520/E0999-20.
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specification SE-999 in Section II of that Code.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E999 − 20
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide, see Terminology E1316.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The provisions in this guide are intended to control the reliability or quality of the image development process only. The
acceptability or quality of industrial radiographic films processed in this manner, as well as the materials or products radiographed,
remain at the discretion of the user, or inspector, or both. It is further intended that this guide be used as an adjunct to, and not
a replacement for, Guide E94.
4.2 Users of non-classified film systems may use monitoring films as described in 8.3 for activity testing of film processing.
4.3 If required, film system manufacturers provide a conformity statement on the classification of their film types in their
processing chemicals for given processing conditions according to Test Method E1815. Users may apply “mixed systems” in which
the film manufacturer is different from the manufacturer of the film development chemicals, processing system, and specified
development conditions. In this case, see 8.2.2 and Appendix X1.
5. Chemical Mixing for Manual and Automatic Processes
5.1 Any equipment that comes in contact with processing solutions should be made of glass, hard rubber, polyethylene, PVC,
enameled steel, stainless steel, or other chemically inert materials. This includes materials such as plumbing, mixing impellers, and
the cores of filter cartridges. Do not allow materials such as tin, copper, steel, brass, aluminum, or zinc to come into contact with
processing solutions. These materials can cause solution contamination that may result in film fogging or rapid oxidation.
5.2 Mixing Chemicals:
5.2.1 Do not mix powdered chemicals in processor tanks, since undissolved particles may be left in the square corners of the
tank. Mix solutions in separate containers made from materials specified in 5.1.
5.2.2 Carefully follow the manufacturer’s package directions or formulas for mixing the chemicals. Start with the correct
volume of water at the temperature specified in the instructions, and add chemicals in the order listed. During the mixing and use
of radiographic film processing chemicals, be sure to observe all precautionary information on chemical containers and in
instructions.
5.2.3 Proper mixing of chemicals can be verified with measurements of pH and specific gravity.
5.3 Contamination of Solutions:
5.3.1 Thoroughly clean all mixing equipment immediately after use to avoid contamination when the next solution is mixed.
When mixing fixer from powder, make sure to add the powder carefully to the water in the mixing tank so fixer dust does not get
into other processing solutions. When mixing any chemical, protect nearby tank solutions with floating lids and dust covers. The
use of a vent hood is recommended as a safety precaution.
5.3.2 The water supply should either be de-ionized or filtered to 50 microns or better, so it is clean and sediment-free.
5.3.3 If large tanks are used for mixing, carefully mark the volume levels to be certain that volumes are correct.
5.3.4 Use separate mixers for developer solution and for fixer solution. If only one mixer is available, thoroughly rinse the mixer
after each mix to avoid cross-contamination of chemicals. Use of impeller-type mixers provides rapid, thorough mixing. When
positioning the impeller, special caution should be taken in choosing angle and depth to minimize the amount of air being drawn
into the solution. Over-mixing of the solutions can cause oxidation, especially with developers, and should be avoided. Rinse the
shaft, impeller, and mounting clamp with water after use.
5.4 Maintaining Equipment:
5.4.1 Immediately clean all mixing equipment after use.
5.4.2 In addition to cleaning equipment immediately after use, wash any mixing apparatus that has been idle for a long period
of time to eliminate dust and dirt that may have accumulated.
5.4.3 Processing hangers and tanks should be free of corrosion and chemical deposits. Encrusted deposits that accumulate in
tanks, trays,trays and processing equipment, which are difficult to remove by conventional cleaning, can be removed by using the
specially formulated cleaning agents recommended by the chemical or equipment manufacturer.
6. Storage of Solutions
6.1 In Original Containers—Follow the manufacturer’s storage and capacity recommendations packaged with the chemicals.
Do not use chemicals that have been stored longer than recommended.
6.2 In Replenisher or Process Tanks—Wherever possible, protect solutions in tanks with floating lids and dust covers. In
addition to preventing contaminants from entering solutions, floating lids and dust covers help to minimize oxidation and
evaporation from the surface of the solutions. Evaporation can concentrate solutions and reduce temperatures causing precipitation
of some of the solution constituents.
6.2.1 Store replenisher solutions for small volume operations in airtight containers. The caps of these containers should be free
of corrosion and foreign particles that could prevent a tight fit.
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6.3 Temperature—Store all solutions at normal room temperature, between 40 to 80°F80 °F (4 to 27°C).27 °C). Storing
solutions, particularly developer, at elevated temperatures can produce rapid oxidation resulting in loss of activity and a tendency
to stain the film. Storage at too low a temperature, particularly of fixer solutions, can cause some solutions to crystallize, and the
crystals may not redissolvere-dissolve even with heating and stirring.
6.4 Deterioration—Radiographic film processing chemicals can deteriorate either with age or with usage. Carefully follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations for storage life and useful capacity. Discard processing solutions when the recommended number
of films has been processed or the recommended storage life of the prepared solution has been reached, whichever occurs first.
6.5 Contamination:
6.5.1 Liquid chemicals are provided in containers with tight-fitting tops. To avoid contamination, never interchange the top of
one container with another. For this reason, it is common practice for radiographic film processing chemicals manufacturers to
color code the container tops, that is, red for developer and blue for fixer.
6.5.2 Clearly label replenisher storage tanks with the solution that they contain and use that container only with that solution.
If more than one developer or one fixer formulation are being used, a separate replenisher tank should be dedicated to each
chemical. Differences in developer or fixer formulations from one manufacturer to another may contaminate similar solutions.
7. Processing
7.1 Manual Processing:
7.1.1 Follow the temperature recommendations from the film or solution manufacturer. Check thermometers and temperature-
controlling devices periodically to be sure the process temperatures are correct. Process temperatures should be checked at least
once per shift. Keep the temperature of the stop (if used), fixer, and wash water within 65°F (63°C)65 °F (63 °C) of the
developer temperature. An unprotected mercury-filled thermometer should never be used for radiographic film processing
applications because accidental breakage could result in serious mercury contamination.
7.1.2 Control of processing solution temperature and immersion time relationships are instrumental considerations when
establishing a processing procedure that will consistently produce radiographs of desired density and quality. The actual time and
temperature relationships established are governed largely by the industrial radiographic films and chemicals used and should be
within the limits of the manufacturer’s recommendations for those materials. When determining the immersion time for each
solution, ensure that the draining time is included. Draining time should be consistent from solution to solution. The darkroom
timers used should be periodically checked for accuracy.
7.1.3 Agitate at specified intervals for the times recommended by the film or solution manufacturer.
7.1.4 As film is processed, the components of the processing solutions involved in the radiographic process are consumed. In
addition, some solution adheres to the film and is carried over into the next solution while bromide ions and other by-products are
released into the solutions. Replenishment is carried out to replace those components which have been consumed while, at the same
time, reducing the level of by-products of the process. The volume of replenishment necessary is governed primarily by the
number, size, and density of films processed. Manufacturer’s recommendations for replenishment are based on these criteria and
will generally provide suitable results for the expected life of the solution. In any case, maintain solution levels to ensure complete
immersion of the film.
7.1.5 Newly mixed chemicals are often referred to as “fresh.” “Seasoning” refers to the changes that take place in the processing
solutions as films are processed after fresh chemicals have been added to the processor. As the processing solutions season,
provided they are replenished appropriately, they will reach chemical equilibrium and the film speed and contrast will be consistent
and stable. To bring freshly mixed solutions to a seasoned state very quickly, a chemical starter can be added or exposed films can
be processed. When using developer starter solution, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the product. When using
2 2
seasoning films, expose the films with visible light and then develop three 14 by 17-in.17 in. (35 by 43-cm)43 cm ) films, or
equivalent, per gallon (3.8 L) of developer, following the manufacturer’s recommended processing cycle, replenishment, and wash
rates.
NOTE 1—Seasoning films may be new films or films that may not be generally suitable for production purposes due to excessive gross fog (base plus
fog) density, expiration of shelf life, or other reasons.
7.1.6 Handle all films carefully during the processing cycle and allow adequate time for the film to sufficiently drain before
transferring it to the next solution. The use of a stop bath or clear water rinse between developing and fixing may also be
appropriate. The stop bath or clear water rinse serveserves to arrest development and also aids in minimizing the amount of
developer carried over into the fixer solution. Insufficient bath-to-bath drain time may cause excessive solution carry-overcarry-
over, which can contaminate and shorten the life of solutions in addition to causing undesirable effects on processed radiographs.
7.1.7 When washing films, a wetting agent may be appropriate to use to prevent water spots and streaking during drying. Prior
to placing films in the dryer, ensure that the dryer is clean and that adequate heat and ventilation are provided. During drying,
visually examine the films to determine the length of time required for sufficient drying.
7.2 Automated Processing:
7.2.1 Immersion time and solution temperature relationships can be more closely controlled with automatic processing since the
equipment provides external gages for monitoring purposes. As a general guideline, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations
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for industrial processing m
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