Beta & gamma rays
Functionality and advantages of ionizing radiation
IONIZING RADIATION : RADIATION WITHOUT RESIDUE
From a radiation source, radiation transmits energy, either as electromagnetic waves (as in gamma radiation) or as a stream of particles (as in beta radiation). This high-energy, ionizing radiation triggers chemical reactions, renders microorganisms harmless and improves the properties of a wide range of products. At BGS, we use both beta radiation, also known as electron radiation or E-Beam, and gamma radiation for radiation sterilization and radiation crosslinking. Due to physical limitations, the ionizing radiation does not induce any secondary material activation. The treated products are also completely free of residues and can be used immediately.
BETA & GAMMA Rays: TECHNOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
Parameters | Beta rays / E-Beam | Gamma rays |
|---|---|---|
Dose rate | High | Low |
Penetration depth | Medium | Very high |
Irradiation time | A few seconds | Several hours |
Energy source | Electric current | Cobalt-60 |
Irradiation unit | Single cartons, multiple cartons or endless strand | Paletts |
Plastic compatibility | Very high | High |
Procedure description | Electrons are emitted in a hot cathode and accelerated to a very high speed in a high vacuum by a strong electric field. As it leaves the accelerator, the electron beam is guided across the product in lines at high frequency by a magnetic field. | Gamma rays are produced through the decay of a radioactive isotope, e.g. cobalt-60. The rays have a high penetration depth and penetrate entire pallets or containers. Cobalt-60 is arranged in individual sources and installed in the source rack, creating an individual radiation field. The products are transported through this radiation field via a predetermined path. The required radiation dose is applied to the product. |
Ionizing radiation: Application areas
Radiation sterilization
Beta and gamma radiation are ideally suited for sterilization. Parameters such as the structure, density, and material of the product determine which method is more suitable.
Radiation sterilization is therefore the only process that can sterilize products in their packaging without significantly increasing the temperature and without using chemicals.
Radiation crosslinking
Beta or electron radiation as well as gamma radiation are also used for product refinement. High dose rates (50 to 250 kGy) are required for the crosslinking of plastics, which is why electron beams are preferred in order to achieve the necessary dose in a short time. For compact components with thicke r walls, gamma radiation can also be used for crosslinking due to its higher penetration depth.
Optimization of power semiconductors
Electron irradiation specifically improves the switching properties and reliability of power semiconductors without changing their chemical composition. Electron radiation is used exclusively for this application. Precise control of defects can shorten switching times and reduce losses, resulting in higher efficiency and performance in demanding applications.
OVERVIEW BETA Rays
Radiant energy
- Beta rays
- Products are exposed to high-energy electrons
Technical parameters
- Radiation energy
- Dose adjustment
- Various handling systems
Product factors
- Suitable for the irradiation of products with low to medium density
- Compatible with a wide range of plastics
How E-Beam works: How does electron irradiation work?
Accelerated electrons are generated by electron accelerators, which are comparable to a Braun tube: A hot cathode emits electrons, which are accelerated in a strong electric field in a high vacuum. If energies above 5 MeV are required, BGS uses resonance accelerators of the Rhodotron® type. In these, electrons are accelerated in a cyclic alternating field in several stages up to a maximum energy of 10 MeV. The electron beam emerging from the accelerator is deflected in an alternating magnetic field so that it hits the products to be irradiated in a fanned-out manner. These are passed under the beam using a suitable transport system.
The process characteristics of beta irradiation differ fundamentally from irradiation with gamma rays. The products are usually fed through the irradiation process in the transport packaging as individual cartons, loose bulk goods or unwound as a continuous strand and then wound up again. This only takes a few seconds. The possible fill level of the irradiation unit depends on its density, its packaging scheme and the energy of the electrons.
Beta rays / E-Beam treatment is best suited for
- the sterilization of uniformly packaged products with a low density (e.g. medical products in small packaging units),
- the sterilization of uniformly packaged products with low density,
- the modification of polymers,
- the refinement or crosslinking of plastics,
- the irradiation of power semiconductors.
Electron irradiation: Advantages of E-Beam irradiation
E-Beam irradiation is a precise, fast, and safe solution for treating your products.
Efficient due to high speed
With our modern high-speed accelerators, E-Beam irradiation offers treatment in just a few seconds. After irradiation, the products can be processed without delay, i.e., without storage and the associated costs.
Gentle on materials
E-Beam irradiation is highly precise and does not cause any significant increase in temperature. Thanks to its low penetration depth and high dosage rates, the process is particularly suitable for sensitive products with low to medium density.
Environmentally friendly and safe
E-Beam is considered an efficient and sustainable solution, especially for sterilization. Due to physical properties, the radiation used at BGS does not generate any radioactivity. The treated products are free of any harmful residues for humans and the environment.
VIDEO: PRINCIPLE OF electron radiation
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More InformationOVERVIEW GAMMA RADIATION
Radiation energy
- Decay of cobalt-60
- Products are exposed to gamma radiation
Technical parameters
- Dwell time in the system
- Equipping the source rack
Product factors
- Suitable for the irradiation of low, medium and high density products
- Compatible with a wide range of materials
How gamma radiation works: How does gamma irradiation work?
In contrast to electron accelerators, where the irradiation process takes just a few seconds, irradiation in the gamma facility takes several hours. The gamma rays are formed by the decay of the radioactive isotope cobalt-60 (60Co). They have a high penetration depth at a low dose rate and therefore have the ability to penetrate complete pallets, containers and sealed products. The products to be irradiated can usually run through the irradiation process directly on the delivery pallets. The pallets enter the system via a conveyor system and pass around the source rack equipped with the individual source pencils. The control system ensures that each pallet completes the specified number of loops. This ensures the specified irradiation dose in total for each product. The gamma systems at BGS can irradiate different products with different final doses at the same time.
To ensure safe access to the irradiation system, the source rack is lowered into a water basin over eight meters deep to completely shield the radiation.
Gamma ray treatment is best suited for:
- the sterilization of single-use medical devices,
- the sterilization of packaged products with low to high density,
- products with complex geometries (e.g. components or bioreactors),
- the sterilization of raw materials.
Gamma irradiation: Advantages of gamma irradiation
Versatile in use
Gamma radiation penetrates the entire product range without the need for repackaging or relocation. Thanks to its high penetration depth, gamma radiation is ideal for treating a wide variety of products, even those with complex shapes, high density, or large-volume packaging. This means that even products with challenging geometries can be irradiated reliably and evenly.
More flexibility
In sterilization, gamma irradiation enables a more flexible formation of processing classes compared to electron irradiation. This means that different products can be irradiated together under the same conditions, reducing the validation effort.
Environmentally friendly and safe
Gamma irradiation has a lower environmental impact than chemical methods. The cobalt-60 radiation sources used are employed over a long period of time and are recycled after use. Due to physical properties, the radiation used at BGS does not generate any radioactivity.
VIDEO: PRINCIPLE OF GAMMA RADIATION
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More InformationTechnical Brochures
Our technical brochures radiation sterilization & radiation crosslinking answer key questions on technology, procedures and process integration.
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FAQ: PRODUCT RADIATION: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No! For physical reasons, the radiation can only trigger chemical reactions in the products. The energies used in the BGS systems are too low to generate radioactivity in the products.
Depending on the radiation dose applied, there is no significant heating of the products during irradiation. At higher doses, which are normally necessary for crosslinking, there is a slight increase in temperature.
The energy of the rays is expressed in mega electron volt (MeV), which describes the strength of the electric field used to accelerate the electrons. It is directly related to the penetration depth of the beams. It is limited by the design of our equipment to a maximum of 10 MeV to prevent activation of the products. The dose (or amount) of radiation is expressed in Gray (Gy), which determines the desired effect of the irradiation. For radiation sterilization the dose range of 25 kGy is often sufficient, while for radiation crosslinking doses of over 100 kGy are typical.
No, depending on the material density and the energy of the beta rays (E-Beam), the penetration depth of the rays can be up to several centimeters. This enables reliable modification of components with a considerable material thickness, which may also contain metal components.
BGS has developed equipment and maintenance systems that ensure high reliability. In most cases, redundant production facilities are available to ensure continuous high availability of production capacity and guarantee reproducibility.
FURTHER INFORMATION : FUNCTIONALITY
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