Security X-ray Machine

Yes. The reason is X-rays, unlike other radiations, are highly penetrating.

Just an extremely low dose of X-rays is enough to penetrate cases like jackets, baggage, etc. leaving a negative impression of the objects inside these cases. These rays can detect the presence of organic, inorganic, metallic, or non-metallic objects inside the case without causing any harm to the target objects.

Similarly, in the case of humans, X-rays penetrate the flesh part of their bodies and not the bones. Hence, there will be a negative impression of the bone areas inside the film.

Hence, X-rays are used for security purposes in varied sectors such as aviation, railways, business hubs, courier offices, etc.

The major function of the X-ray security scanner is to detect illegal and dangerous items such as explosives, hidden contrabands, narcotic drugs, and weapons quickly and precisely by scanning the visitors and their baggage thoroughly.

Hence, X-ray security scanners are used in varied security checkpoints of airports, railways, transport terminals, military, hotels, schools, embassies, factories, convention centers, courthouses, prisons, and special events.

Unlike manual inspection where there is a possibility of human errors, X-ray security scanners work in an automated mode in addition to other benefits such as ease-of-use, speed, cost-effectiveness, high security, and reliability.

Furthermore, X-ray security scanners precisely detect the items with their appearance without any need for reinspection.

Manual inspections are usually time-consuming with a considerable risk of human errors. Hence, there is a need for automated tools that can detect dangerous items quickly.

As X-rays can highly penetrate any given object unlike other radiations, they can detect metals, nonmetals, organic, and inorganic items inside the case instantly and accurately.

In the security field, your baggage will undergo an X-ray scan and the connected screen can display many colors. Depending on every color, the security officer can identify the category of the object and automatically detect dangerous illegal items such as weapons, explosives, smuggled goods, and hidden contrabands based on color and density analysis. The attached alarm can vastly improve the efficiency of inspection.

Furthermore, these X-rays are used as metal detectors, baggage screeners, as well as full-body screeners.

As mentioned already, X-rays can penetrate any object deeply. Hence, security X-ray machines can detect metallic, non-metallic, organic, and inorganic objects. That means you cannot escape with smuggled or banned items such as explosives, hidden contrabands, narcotic drugs, and weapons hidden in your baggage.

X-rays can see through the surface of every baggage to get a detailed image of the products inside the baggage. Based on the density and color analysis study, security officers can spot contraband.

Remember that these X-ray baggage scanners cannot detect every product in your case. However, if there is any suspicious item due to color difference, your baggage will then undergo a thorough manual check.

Any material type that is X-ray opaque is the one where X-ray cannot pass through. ‘X-ray Opaque’ refers to the object or area that delivers black areas in the final X-ray image. However, this material should be either thick or have multiple layers.

If the material is very thick or has multiple layers, X-rays cannot penetrate them. For example, items inside the lead box cannot be detected. Still, the presence of layers and thickness seems to be a vital factor.

So, answering the question, lead, crystals, thicker metals, and several glass types like camera lenses where the special lead compound is added to the glass, are the items through which X-rays cannot penetrate.

When it comes to humans, X-rays cannot penetrate your bones. Hence, you find a negative impression of those bony areas in the film.

Yes. X-ray baggage scanners can detect the currencies although it is not an easy task. If the baggage having money in bundles undergoes scanning, it gets displayed as a book on the detection screen. The reason is these currencies are concealed inside a book or tissue paper packet to prevent detection.

As the majority of the currencies look nearly similar in appearance, the airport officials stay on heightened alert while coming across such luggage.  Once they find one such bag, they will carry on with the manual inspection.

In case you are heading to the airport with a huge wad of cash inside your baggage, think twice and be aware of this security scan.