American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Radiographic Testing Practice Test

Increasing the kilovoltage in radiographic imaging primarily affects the film density by increasing it. As kilovoltage rises, the energy of the X-ray photons produced also increases, allowing them to penetrate denser materials more effectively. This results in more photons reaching the film or detector after passing through the object being imaged.

As the number of photons reaching the film increases, the film becomes darker, which is measured as an increase in density. This is crucial in ensuring that the resulting radiograph contains sufficient contrast and detail, especially when assessing the integrity of materials and detecting flaws.

Higher kilovoltage can also influence the quality of the image by reducing the contrast, leading to a potential trade-off between density and detail. However, its primary and most immediate effect is the increase in film density due to the greater number of penetrating photons. This principle is essential for radiographers to understand for optimal image quality and accuracy in evaluation.