What is NDT?

What is NDT?

Non-Destructive testing (NDT) is broad range of techniques used to analyse the properties of materials, parts and structures without damaging them. Common NDT methods include Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI), Ultrasonic Testing, Radiography and Eddy Current Testing.

Applications for NDT

NDT is a necessity in almost every engineering sector but is used extensively in the aerospace, automotive, rail, oil and gas, military and general engineering sectors. NDT is extremely common in industries where a component failure would cause significant hazards such as in transportation, pressure vessels, building structures, piping, and hoisting equipment.

NDT can be used to find:

• Cracks
• Porosity
• Weld Defects
• Fatigue
• Creep/Cold Flow
• Delamination

What kind of NDT should I use?

The type of NDT to use depends heavily on the physical properties of the test part, size, geometry and the budget available for NDT - All NDT techniques have strengths, weaknesses and niches.

Johnson & Allen specialise in MPI and DPI techniques, equipment and consumables. MPI and DPI techniques tend to complement each other well and together make up the largest proportion of the NDT market. For most applications one (or both) of these techniques is suitable and are typically the more cost effective methods too.