Developing new ASTM standard E 2422, Reference Digital Images for Inspection of Aluminum Castings, wasn’t just a matter of digitizing the images used in current standard E 155, Reference Radiographs for Inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Castings. According to Michael Horky, principal level III, RT, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, to create the new standard, task group members had to understand the spatial resolution differences between various detectors, contrast differences, which digitization scan resolution was appropriate and a process for normalizing the digital images for the wide variety of digital systems in the industry.

ASTM E 2422 was developed by Subcommittee E07.02 on Reference Radiological Images, which is under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing. Horky says that E 2422 will be used by facilities that use digital radiography for inspection of aluminum castings. "This opens the door for inspecting production hardware, which was not allowed in many industries before this standard was developed," says Horky.

While E 2422 is focused on aluminum, Subcommittee E07.02 has formed a task group for making digital images for ASTM E 192, Reference Radiographs for Investment Steel Castings of Aerospace Applications. Horky says that there is a foreseeable need for digital images for magnesium and other metals and notes that the task group that worked on E 2422 documented the development process so that it could be used when designing digital images for other metals.

For further technical information, contact Michael Horky (phone: 204/544-8095; michael.d.horky@boeing.com). Committee E07 will meet June 11-15, at the June Committee Week in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For membership or meeting details, contact George Luciw, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9710; gluciw@astm.org).

ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact) or http://www.astm.org.

Release #7342