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AIR-COUPLED ULTRASONIC INSPECTION

Water, the most commonly used couplant in ultrasonic testing, is not compatible with certain industrial processes. It may cause
permanent damage to many materials, especially to some of the advanced materials used by the aerospace industry. Therefore, QMI developed the unique AIRSCAN® instrumentation and technique, which uses the air of the natural environment as couplant. As such, AIRSCAN is considered a noncontact ultrasonic inspection method. The method also allows to increase the scanning speed without
being constrained by any couplant.

The SONDA 007CX is the multifrequency  AIRSCAN®  instrument for air-coupled ultrasonic testing. It uses all ceramic transducers for a broad frequency range, from 1 MHz to 50 kHz.

AIRSCAN TRANSDUCERSHighly attenuative materials are readily tested using our new 120 kHz. ceramic transducers (ceramic transducers are more robust than electrostatic transducers) ,  providing an optimum combination of good resolution and penetration.  The high frequency of 400 kHz ceramic transducers yield the best lateral resolution, while the low frequency 50 kHz transducers are used for the most attenuative materials (thick section foam core & multi-septum parts).

Highly attenuative materials are readily tested using our new 120 kHz. ceramic transducers (ceramic transducers are more robust than electrostatic transducers) ,  providing an optimum combination of good resolution and penetration.  The high frequency of 400 kHz
ceramic transducers yield the best lateral resolution, while the low frequency 50 kHz transducers are used for the most attenuative
materials (thick section foam core & multi-septum parts).

The following images show C-scans of a paste bonded composite panel with bondline voids.

5 MHz   Water Squirter		400 kHz   Airscan

Multifrequency scanning offers an additional tool for defect evalution, as shown in the following C-scans. Note the red color of the
defect in the right scan, in contrast to the blue color of the same defect in the left scan. Such frequency dependent transmissions are
an indication for increased porosity, as opposed to delaminations.

400 kHz Airscan	50 kHz Airscan

AIRSCAN^® transducers can be configured to work in through-transmission or pitch-catch mode. This technique is ideally suited for the application of plate waves.

Plate Wave Inspection from one side	Plate Wave Inspection from opposite sides

Typical applications include:

HONEYCOMB SOLAR PANEL C-scan image with AIRSCAN technique. Stiffener Insert: 2 in by 2 in.

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