Critical Survey of Non-destructive Testing Techniques for Non-conducting Materials

There is much published information available on non-destructive testing (NDT) of traditional engineering materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys. This report is a user guide to the less well documented current NDT techniques applicable to newer materials, such as particle and fibre-filled composites and ceramics, referred to here as non-conducting materials. The report is divided into separate sections covering six NDT techniques: ultrasonic, sonic, radiological, optical, thermography and microwave. After an introduction, each section covers the basic principles, various methods and applications, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the particular techniques discussed. Sufficient information is provided to allow interpolation and extrapolation of data to cover applications not dealt with in the report. The growing use of computers to extend the range of tests to items previously thought untestable, and to make data "user-friendly" is highlighted. NDT techniques, capabilities and limitations are tabulated in an appendix for quick reference. A product literature survey and an international list of NDT companies, together with their addresses and specialities, is also provided.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Ultrasonic techniques: basic principles, generation - probes, automated probing systems, waves; types of display; the ultrasonic technique applied to non-conducting materials - ceramic materials, composites; the ultrasonic C-Scan; attenuation measurements; ultrasonic microscopy. Part 2 Sonic techniques: acoustic emission - the Kaiser effect, source location techniques, amplitude distribution, presentation of data; application of AE testing - advantages and disadvantages of acoustic emission testing; industrial applications of acoustic emission - nuclear, petrochemical, aerospace, electronics, civil engineering; acoustic resonance techniques - basic principles, commercialization of the technique. Part 3 Radiological methods: basic principles; production of x-rays; x-ray absorption; x-ray spectra; radiography using radioactive sources; the use of intensifying screens; use of radiographic techniques in composites and plastics testing - x-ray tomography, x-ray backscatter methods. Part 4 Optical techniques: basic principles of holography - holographic interferometry, principles of shearography. Part 5 Thermography: thermographic systems; applications. Part 6 Microwave techniques: thickness and bulk properties derived from single frequency reflection co-efficient measurements; thickness and bulk properties derived from single frequency transmission co-efficient measurements; thickness, bulk properties and imaging derived from wideband backscatter measurements; thickness, bulk properties and imaging derived from wideband transmission methods; imaging derived from single frequency microwave holographic measurements. Appendices: available NDT techniques for composites; international list of specialist NDT companies.