EoW July 2011

technology news

MAGNETIC Analysis Corporation has made two recent deliveries of combined eddy current and leakage flux systems for in-line NDT (non-destructive testing) of copper rod on the rolling portion of a mill. The installations are located after the continuous casting section where the temperature of the product is still somewhat elevated and rolling speeds can reach 2,500m/minute. The systems used a MultiMac eddy current instrument with an additional flux leakage MID (Magnetic Inclusion Detector) card. The eddy current technique is used to detect surface defects, while the flux leakage technique, which only responds to steel inclusions, detects and separates sub-surface and surface steel inclusions from the surface defects found by the eddy current technology. By setting up multiple test thresholds, these systems provide valuable data on the type and relative severity of the surface cracks and inclusions. This information is then processed according to the number of occurrences in the finished coil or rod, or used to classify the product by size or defect type into three or four zones. The final report on a particular coil grades its suitability for various options of further processing. In addition, there is the added real time benefit for production personnel of receiving early warning of a bad roll. Data that is derived from the test instrument and exported to a computer can then be analysed to provide customised information that is helpful to a particular customer. This NDT system can also be applied in aluminium rod mills. Magnetic Analysis Corp – USA Fax : +1 914 703 3790 Email : info@mac-ndt.com Website : www.mac-ndt.com Eddy current technique Cross-linked ethylene- tetrafluoroethylene compound After substantial testing in the field, Inhol BV/PTL has introduced the new XL-ETFE compound type PTL-RDX 42759 to the market. RDX 42759 is a high performance compound that combines high-temperature and fluid resistance properties. The compound is made to meet stringent specifications like MIL-W-22759 (SAE AS22759), VG 95218 Part 20, 21, 22 and 23 and other specifications throughout the industry. Applications include commercial wiring in avionics, satellites, aircraft, helicopter, ships, trains, offshore platforms and high performance military and motorsport electronics. The compound shows a low temperature resistance down to -65°C and is resistant to many chemicals and fluids, including IRM 902 oil, diesel fuels, lubricating oils, brake fluids, synthetic hydraulic fluids, damping fluids, seawater, greases, cleaning compounds and solvents. It will withstand temperatures of 300°C for seven hours, and provides good performance in flammability tests. It features excellent corona resistance, and resistance to heat, cold, oil, abrasion, ozone and weathering, and can handle a continuous operating temperature from -65°C to +200°C. XL-ETFE compounds offer improved strengths in comparison to standard ETFE. After e-beam cross-linking the material will show more resistance to cold flow, improved abrasion resistance, and more resistance to radiation influences than standard ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene. Dual wall constructions of the wire will reduce the cracking risks significantly. Inhol BV – Netherlands Fax : +31 3560 33 235 Email : office@inhol.com Website : www.inhol.com

40

EuroWire – July 2011