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Title: Advantages of polymer transducers in high frequency inspections

Book ·
OSTI ID:64663
;  [1]
  1. Panametrics, Waltham, MA (United States)

Since the discovery of piezoelectricity in PVDF in 1969 the polymer transducers have now emerged as a significant tool in many ultrasonic inspections that otherwise would have been very difficult or impossible for conventional ceramic transducers. The major advantage, of Polymer transducers is in their inherent broadband characteristics in immersion applications which leads to their superior resolution and improved signal to noise ration over conventional ceramic transducers. This paper will show empirical results of high frequency polymer transducer in inspection of different materials including engineering materials such as ceramics. Other advantages of the polymer transducers are their low acoustic impedance as well as the compliance of the plastic material during construction. The compliance of the plastic PVDF film allows the manufacture of the high frequency polymer transducers without the use of permanent delays which can interfere with ultrasonic measurements. This paper will also give experimental results that will show how polymer transducers are instrument dependent, and how an operator can achieve optimum results by using an impedance matching network between the instrument and the polymer transducer.

OSTI ID:
64663
Report Number(s):
CONF-931193-; ISBN 0-931403-23-5; TRN: IM9528%%323
Resource Relation:
Conference: American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) fall conference and quality testing show: NDT - a partner in engineering innovation, Long Beach, CA (United States), 8-12 Nov 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of ASNT 1993 fall conference and quality testing show. NDT: A partner in engineering innovation; PB: 193 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English