My physics teacher brought this up in a lecture and I am not exactly sure what he is saying.
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1$\begingroup$ Eddy currents might be one thing to google... $\endgroup$– Jon CusterCommented Jun 4, 2019 at 2:32
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$\begingroup$ eddyfi.com/ndt/surface-inspection/… but it is related to a magnetic field, so maybe you do not remember well? $\endgroup$– anna vCommented Jun 4, 2019 at 3:32
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$\begingroup$ What is a PIG? $\endgroup$– J...Commented Jun 4, 2019 at 16:24
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1 Answer
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Cracks and other flaws can be found in metal parts by scanning the surface of the part with a small electromagnetic coil, which induces a current flow in the metal part as if the coil and the part were two coils coupled together in a transformer. the presence of a flaw like a crack in the part perturbs the flow of induced current and in turn upsets the current flow in the coil, which can be detected with a sensitive electronic circuit which thereby signals the test operator that a flaw is present at that point. This is called an eddy current test.
If the metal part is ferromagnetic, surface cracks can be detected by temporarily magnetizing the part with a very strong external magnetic field and then rinsing the surface with a special fluid which contains a suspension of extremely finely-powdered iron in which the particles have been coated with a fluorescent dye. In the vicinity of a crack, the field lines in the magnetized part get bunched up and protrude slightly from the crack, attracting and entrapping the iron particles there. The test operator then rinses the excess fluid off the part and shines a UV light at it, which causes the dyed particles to visibly glow and trace out the crack. This test is called magnetic particle inspection (Magnaflux).
Cracks can also be detected in a flat metal part by attaching a piece of photographic film to it and then applying a brief high voltage pulse to the part. Electrons are ejected preferentially from the sharp edges of the crack and ionize the air nearby, causing it to glow faintly and expose the film. Once the film is developed and printed onto photographic paper, the cracks can be seen in it as bright lines. This is called corona discharge imaging.
answered Jun 4, 2019 at 5:38
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2$\begingroup$ FYI I think magnaflux is a specific brand of magnetic particle testing. The generic term would be magnetic particle inspection $\endgroup$– JMacCommented Jun 4, 2019 at 14:00
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2$\begingroup$ "If the metal part is made of iron or steel" - I'd amend this to "If the metal part is ferromagnetic" since some steels (e.g. stainless steel) are not magnetic while some other metals (such as nickel and cobalt) are. $\endgroup$– SkylerCommented Jun 4, 2019 at 14:17
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$\begingroup$ @JMac I edited based on your comment. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 5, 2019 at 6:39
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$\begingroup$ Another option to use an electric field to detect cracks in metals is to just look at said metals. I suppose it technically counts as the eddy current test, but calling a lightbulb + piece of metal a transformer is quite a stretch, even if you do manage to find one of those with a coiled filament in it. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 5, 2019 at 7:10