Non-destructive testing (NDT) with microwaves in the process industry

The goal of this project is to provide industry with more data on their plastic infrastructure during maintenance. Better knowledge of component status will enable a safer workplace and better decision making about when, and when not to replace components. Cheaper and safer maintenance is the ultimate goal. 

There is today no easily accessible technique for non-destructive testing (NDT) of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) and FRP with thermoplastic liners. During the last couple of years there have several projects at RISE to develop small, cheap, contact less and versatile microwave radars for NDT. It has been shown that microwave readily penetrates FRP, giving signals from both front and backside as well in defects. In order to improve the technique and increase the reliability of the measurements RISE would now like to move to the next step with field measurements.