What type of radiation is emitted by sealed sources used in industrial x-ray?

In the context of industrial x-ray applications, sealed sources primarily emit gamma rays. This is due to the nature of the materials commonly used in these sealed sources, such as cobalt-60 or cesium-137, which are isotopes that emit gamma radiation as they decay. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate a variety of materials, making them suitable for non-destructive testing and industrial radiography.

X-rays, while also a form of electromagnetic radiation, are typically generated by an x-ray tube rather than emitted from a sealed radioactive source. Alpha particles and beta particles, on the other hand, are forms of particulate radiation that are not typically associated with sealed sources used for industrial radiography because these sources rely on gamma radiation for their penetrating capabilities.

Thus, the primary type of radiation emitted by sealed sources used in industrial x-ray applications is gamma rays, which serve the specific needs of the industry due to their high penetration abilities and effectiveness in imaging and analysis.