The application of X-ray irradiation technology is limited but the market development potential is huge

X-ray irradiation is a type of irradiation technology that uses electron beams to bombard heavy metal targets to produce X-rays. X-rays interact with substances to cause polymerization, cross-linking, grafting and other reactions, or X-rays affect the physiological activity of microorganisms. To achieve material modification, sterilization and other purposes. X-ray irradiation is an ideal sterilization technology and can be widely used in the sterilization of food, medicine, medical equipment, packaging and other products.

There are three main types of radiation sterilization technologies, namely gamma irradiation technology, electron beam irradiation technology, and Consumption and other advantages. At present, γ-ray irradiation and electron beam irradiation are the mainstream technologies in my country and the global radiation sterilization market. Compared with them, the application proportion of X-ray irradiation technology is low and the number of related enterprises is small.

γ-ray irradiation has strong penetrating power and can kill microorganisms on the contents through packaging. However, the intensity of irradiation is required to be high. Otherwise, when used in the field of food sterilization, it will affect the taste of food, and γ-rays are radioactive. The element cobalt-60 is produced, and its application is limited in some scenarios. Electron beam irradiation is non-radioactive and has weak penetration ability. In terms of sterilization of packaged products, only the outer packaging will be sterilized and will not affect the contents. However, if you want to sterilize the contents, you need to open the package. After the sterilization is completed, Secondary packaging reduces work efficiency.

According to the “China X-ray Irradiation Market Feasibility Research Report 2022-2026” released by the Industrial Research Center, the use of electron accelerators The generated electron beam bombards heavy metal targets, which can convert the electron beam into high-energy X-rays. This X-ray irradiation technology not only has the advantages of starting and stopping at any time, high speed, and non-radioactivity of electron beam irradiation technology, but also has penetrating It has strong capabilities and combines the advantages of electron beam irradiation and gamma ray irradiation. It has a wider range of applications and has great market potential in the future.

In my country, CICC Irradiation is one of the leading companies in the irradiation industry. It mainly uses gamma ray irradiation technology. It is also accelerating its layout in the electron beam irradiation technology market and announced that it will choose opportunities to introduce and develop X-ray irradiation based on market conditions. technology.

Industry analysts said that X-ray irradiation technology is more complex and the conversion rate of electron beams into X-rays is low. Therefore, its cost is higher and its application is limited at this stage. Currently, in the field of sterilization, especially in the sterilization of complex packaging products, the proportion of gamma irradiation applications is relatively high. However, there are few cobalt-60 manufacturers in my country and the world. With the price of cobalt rising, the cost pressure on the gamma irradiation industry is is growing. At the same time, my country’s radiation sterilization market space is growing, and the potential market space is estimated to reach about 5.5 billion yuan. Under this circumstance, if X-ray irradiation technology can achieve a breakthrough, the future development prospects will be broad.