Hamamatsu- Nondestructive measurement

http://www.hamamatsu.com/jp/en/technology/lifephotonics/environment/NonDestructiveInspection/index.html

Nondestructive measurement

Developing sustainable systems for the production goods requires that we change our conventional methods of mass consumption and mass disposal. Nondestructive inspection offers us ways to look inside of things without taking them apart, thus opening the possibility of reducing waste and garbage.

Terahertz camera

We envision the terahertz cameras for use not only in manufacturing facilities, but also for outdoor applications of nondestructive testing. For example, by using a terahertz cameras to inspect the inside of a building, internal damage could be discovered early and thus help extend the life of the property.

Features

Terahertz waves can penetrate soft materials such as paper or plastics, while at the same time having strong absorption to water. Therfore, they can discover areas that are prone to corrosion due to heavy moisture as well as areas that are already corroded. Terahertz waves do not penetrate metals, so it can be used to find the positions of nails and other metal parts that are covered by heat-insulating materials, ceramics, and wallpaper. This can help make building maintenance more efficient.

Measurement example

In this example, the sample is worm-eaten wood that is covered in wallpaper. In the image captured with terahertz waves, the holes in the wood under the surface of the wallpaper can be clearly observed.

Soft X-ray 3D microscope

In materials engineering, light element materials such as carbon fiber-reinforced plastics have been gaining attention as an energy-saving and eco-friendly alternative to conventional metallic materials, due to their strength and light weight. For these materials, soft X-rays of a few keV or less are an effective means of observation. By using a compact X-ray source and X-ray reflecting optical elements, Hamamatsu has developed a laboratory-scale soft X-ray 3D microscope for making 3D structural observations at sub-micron resolution.

·                                 This technology uses soft X-rays to visualize the three-dimensional structures inside an object made from light elements.

·                                 Due to the high attenuation coefficient of the light elements for soft X-rays, a high-contrast image of such samples can be obtained.

·                                 In the development of light element materials with low environmental impact, this technology can be useful for the design of such materials or for controlling their microstructure during manufacturing.

Features of the measurement example

Observation of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic

Publications

·                                 S. Ohsuka, A. Ohba, S. Onoda, K. Nakamoto, T. Nakano, M. Miyoshi, K. Soda, and T. Hamakubo, “Laboratory-size three-dimensional x-ray microscope with Wolter type I mirror optics and an electron-impact water window x-ray source”,Review of Scientific Instruments 85, 093701 (2014).

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