Corrosion Inspection

Corrosion Inspection Methods are periodic checks of materials and material systems to detect corrosion and corrosion related defects including cracks. The success of many of these methods lies with the operator and their experience with locating and identifying corrosion. Low technology methods are limited to surface damage only. They include visual inspection, liquid penetrant inspection, and magnetic particle inspection. High technology methods are used to detect subsurface defects, damage to hidden areas, and damage too small for visual inspection. These methods usually induce some form of energy into the material of interest, such as x-rays, sound waves, or heat, and measure the absorption/reflection of the energy. The data collected is then used to “map” defects found in the material. Experience with the various equipment/methods and second or third inspection methods may be required to identify exactly what type of defect has been detected.