Robotic-Assisted XRF Testing System for In-Situ Areal Density Measurement of Light-Sensitive Explosive Coatings

TL;DR

A robotic XRF system was developed to quickly and non-destructively measure the areal density of light-sensitive explosive coatings.

Contribution

A novel robotic-assisted XRF system for in-situ, non-destructive areal density measurement of SASN coatings was developed.

Findings

The XRF system achieved a high correlation (R2 = 0.9987) between Ag Kα counts and areal density.

XRF measurements showed a 0.03% relative deviation compared to sampling methods, confirming its accuracy.

The XRF system reduced measurement time by 77.8% compared to traditional sampling methods.

Abstract

The light-sensitive explosive (silver acetylide–silver nitrate, SASN) sprayed on structural surfaces can be synchronously initiated by intense pulsed flash, thereby simulating cold X-ray blow-off events characterized by thermal–mechanical coupling effects. By adjusting the areal density of SASN coatings, proportional blow-off impulse levels can be achieved. To address the challenge of in situ and non-destructive areal density measurement for SASN coatings, this study developed an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) detection system integrated with a six-axis spray robot. Excitation parameters (50 kV, 20 μA) and geometric configuration (6 cm focal distance) were optimized to establish a quadratic calibration model between Ag Kα counts and areal density (0–80 mg/cm2) with high correlation (R2 = 0.9987). Validation experiments were conducted on a uniformly coated SASN plate (20 × 20 cm) to evaluate the consistency between XRF and sampling methods. The XRF-measured areal density averaged 12.722 mg/cm2 with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 3.19%. The reference value obtained by the sampling method was 12.718 mg/cm2 (CV = 1.57%). The relative deviation between the two methods was only 0.03%, confirming the feasibility of XRF for the quantification of SASN coatings. The XRF system completed measurements in 1 h, achieving a 77.8% time reduction compared to conventional sampling (4.5 h), significantly enhancing efficiency. This work provides a reliable solution for in situ and non-destructive quality control of energetic material coatings.

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