Posts Tagged ‘leak detection’

The importance of non destructive testing

October 29, 2008

The welding or molding by the casting process is the industrial procedure involved to give shape to many products like tubes, pipes, metal parts, bars, wires, etc. The end solid objects often involve the risk of breaking in service and they cannot be welded or molded instantly. It may take long to further rework on the same to give them shape or they may not be re-shaped at all. Hence, these solid objects require non destructive testing during the manufacturing process so that the risk factor is reduced, facilitating durability and long lasting capacity. There are hundreds of non destructive testing equipment used for varied purposes in different sectors, which ensure quality production.

 Very often weld defects are found in metal objects due to the lack of fusion of the weld to the metal including porous bubbles inside the weld. This is dangerous as they may cause the object, say a structure to break or say a pipeline to crack. These are but only very few examples about how lack of non destructive testing can cause damage and the intensity of the damage can be negligible or very high.

 Industrial products like tubes, pipes, bars, wires, steel structurals, pressure vessels, machined parts are prone to damages during their service lives. The scope of non destructive testing also covers automotive parts, aviation/aerospace frames, power plants, construction, maintenance of bridges, industrial plants, pipelines, railways, amusement park rides, submarines, naval warships, medical imaging applications and the list is endless. Other than checking the products related to these said sectors during the fabrication process, they should also be checked for defects during their service period.

 Manufacturers and end users should make use of the relevant non destructive testing equipment to detect for voids and defects otherwise it will be difficult or very expensive if the damage is already caused. They should procure genuine non destructive testing equipment whether online or directly from stores. Quality and features should be given utmost importance rather than the price factor. Only select vendors, suppliers and manufacturers who have a reputation in the market as well as market expertise, should be the sourcing destinations.

 Ferrous and non-ferrous metals, polymers, composites and ceramics are many of the raw materials used to manufacture industrial components. Few of the damages that may occur if non destructive testing equipment are not used are corrosion, corrosion cracking, erosion, cracks in welds, breakage, etc. To detect surface, subsurface, internal defects, variations, physical and metallurgical conditions like hardness, structure, etc., it is very necessary to use non destructive testing equipment.

 There are various methods and techniques involved for non destructive testing, all based on scientific principles. It is advisable that the user should know to choose the right non destructive testing equipment and utilize the right method and technique. Whether it is liquid penetrant testing, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, electromagnetic testing, acoustic emission testing, positive material identification, laser testing, leak detection, magnetic resonance imaging and more, there are specific and definitive non destructive testing equipment for each.