Acoustic emission method for detection and monitoring of corrosion
US3946600A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1973 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 1993 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01H1/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for detecting and monitoring corrosion by sensing the spontaneous propagation of elastic waves produced in materials as the result of corrosion phenomena. Certain corrosion reactions generate elastic waves (sounds) which may be detected by sufficiently sensitive instrumentation to provide an identifiable acoustic signature. Correlation of these signatures with known standards provides a non-destructive inspection technique for monitoring invisible or hidden corrosion. In addition to acoustic emissions generated by the low-level oxidation/reduction reactions characteristic of corrosion processes, the invention includes the application of a thermal input to the test specimen to enhance the acoustic signals produced by the corrosion phenomena. By measuring the rate of acoustic pulse emission, the cumulative count of acoustic pulses generated, and the pulse amplitudes of the acoustic emissions, correlation may be made with empirically obtained data to permit failure prediction. While primarily directed to the monitoring of corrosion phenomena, the invention may also be applied to other chemical reactions characterized by acoustic emissions, such as etching, painting, electropl…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.