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.