The Measurement Of Corrosion/Erosion By Thin Layer Activation

摘要

Thin Layer Activation (TLA) is a technique by which a surface is labelled with a small amount of radioactivity. Subsequent measurement of this activity enables any material losses of the surface to be measured. These losses can be by wear, erosion or corrosion. There is no surface modification, and a wide range of metals can be activated. There have been many industrial applications of this technique as it provides a direct, on-line determination of surface loss and this can be measured through several centimetres of steel. The authors will summarise their use of the technique to measure corrosion/erosion rates in a variety of industries over the last 14 years. This range of applications illustrates the benefits and deficiencies in exploiting the technique.