Flaw Inspection in Nonferrous Conductors Using Magneto-Optic Detection Methods. Phase 2

摘要

The basic purpose of the research was to fully demonstrate the feasibility of using currently available magneto-optic materials (magnetic garnet films) to produce direct visual images of flaws near the surface of nonferrous electrical conductors such as aluminum. To do this, it was necessary to employ (10-100 KHz) electromagnetic field excitation. Such a device would be capable of forming images of flaws within one skin depth of the conductor's surface. It would thus apply in areas currently investigated by eddy current techniques. Unlike eddy current techniques however, direct instantaneous images of flaws would be available over large areas. This new capability would provide a major new tool for industrial applications, especially in the materials and aerospace fields (the aging aircraft problem).