What is a common use of alpha emitters in industry?

Alpha emitters are commonly used in industrial applications as static eliminators. This application leverages the properties of alpha radiation to neutralize static charges on surfaces. When materials accumulate static electricity, they can cause dust attraction, interference with product handling, or issues in manufacturing processes. By using alpha emitters, which emit particles that interact with the surrounding air, static charges can be effectively neutralized, improving safety and product quality.

The use of alpha emitters in other contexts such as radiography, thick materials testing, or medical imaging is not as prevalent due to their inherent limitations. For instance, alpha particles have low penetration power and cannot pass through materials effectively, making them unsuitable for imaging applications or for testing the integrity of thick materials. Instead, other types of radiation, like gamma rays or X-rays, are preferred for those purposes because they can penetrate deeper and provide clearer imaging or assessment results.