X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a nondestructive testing method that has been around for over 100 years. It is used in many industries and it has several specific applications that are very critical. So, what is it and how does it work?
The first thing to understand is that XRD is an actual X-ray based method that is performed only after all the standard X-ray safety precautions and concerns are addressed. But, it is far from conventional X-ray. In conventional X-ray, the X-rays are pointed at an object, they pass through that object with various levels of absorption, and finally they are captured on a film, imaging plate, or digital detector. The result is an image of the object under test. This image is what a doctor or an industrial technician will interpret to determine if everything is acceptable, or if there are any issues.