Non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDC)
Non-destructive testing and control (NDT/NDC) offers reliable solutions for analysing the integrity of materials and detecting critical defects, without damaging structures. Essential in demanding industrial sectors such as aeronautics, energy and metallurgy, they guarantee compliance with standards, the safety of installations and the optimisation of performance. With its expertise and high-quality services, FILAB supports manufacturers in their control and reliability challenges.
You want to carry out non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDC) of your materials
What is non-destructive testing?
Non-destructive testing and control (NDT/NDC) is a set of methods for characterizing the integrity of materials without damaging them. These tests can be useful at the time of manufacture, use or maintenance of the structure or material.
Non-destructive testing or non-destructive inspection?
Non-destructive testing (NDT) encompasses a wide range of techniques used to analyse or evaluate the properties of materials without damaging them, often in research or development contexts.
Non-destructive testing (NDT), on the other hand, focuses on quality control and inspection in industrial environments to check that materials or structures comply with current standards.
NDT includes exploratory tests, such as the evaluation of mechanical or chemical properties, whereas NDT is mainly aimed at detecting defects and failures (cracks, porosity, corrosion) or validating the integrity of parts in production.
When should non-destructive testing be carried out?
Non-destructive testing (NDT) is essential when it is necessary to verify the integrity, quality or durability of a material or structure without altering its properties. They are particularly suitable in the following cases:
- Quality control: during manufacture or assembly to ensure that materials comply with standards and specifications.
- Preventive maintenance: to detect defects (cracks, corrosion, porosity) before they lead to failure.
- Post-incident analysis: to assess the condition of a component or structure after an impact, overload or fire.
- Regulatory compliance: when an industrial sector imposes strict controls, as in the aeronautical, nuclear or oil & gas sectors.
- Cost optimisation: NDT avoids the need to destroy or dismantle expensive parts for inspection, thereby limiting production interruptions.
Why carry out non-destructive testing in an industrial environment?
Non-destructive testing is used to guarantee the quality and safety of materials used in demanding industrial environments:
- Identify potential defects quickly.
- Reduce the costs associated with repairs or failures.
- Comply with current standards and certifications.
- Optimise performance and extend equipment life.
NDT is suitable for a wide range of materials (metals, concrete, composites, plastics) and applications, such as the inspection of welds, pipelines, aircraft components or concrete structures.
Quality control by NDT: checking the quality of materials
Quality control using non-destructive testing (NDT) can detect discontinuities such as cracks, inclusions, porosities or weld defects, using advanced techniques such as ultrasound, radiography or magnetic particle inspection. These methods, adapted to metallic, composite and polymer materials, guarantee accurate inspection to prevent non-conformities and optimise the reliability of industrial structures.
The FILAB laboratory carries out non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDC)
Why choose FILAB ?
The FILAB laboratory boasts genuine surface expertise, state-of-the-art analytical equipment and a qualified team. It supports manufacturers of all sectors and sizes in the implementation of non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDC) using tomography and AFM.
Test methods and non-destructive testing (NDT/NDC)
X-ray tomography testing
Tomography is a technique for analyzing and testing materials by means of radiation/matter interaction. It enables the construction of 3D images of the test object. Carrying out a tomography test in the laboratory therefore does not involve destroying the sample used.
The non-destructive nature of tomography makes it particularly suitable for certain industrial sectors, such as art and luxury goods, or for manufacturers of bulky objects.
X-ray tomography can be used to analyze material composition and monitor its evolution in relation to external stresses.
AFM testing
The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is a high-resolution microscope with a local probe for visualizing not only the topography of a sample’s surface, but also its tribology and mechanical, electrical or chemical behavior.
This method enables point-by-point analysis of the sample surface by scanning a probe consisting of a nanometric tip. This microscope can therefore be used to study objects on a very small scale.
AFM testing and non-destructive testing
Search for conductivity or electrical permittivity defects (semiconductor)
Thickness measurement of a non-destructive deposit on the surface of a part
Diffusion profile of light elements (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen...) in non destructive mode (equivalent to NRA)
Search for buried defects (inclusions, crystallization defects,)
Tomography with nanometric resolution
Local mechanical measurement in the context of a non-conformity or part inspection
Checking the homogeneity of a deposit or a surface functionalization
Non-destructive testing and inspection using x-ray tomography
Characterization of materials: metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, composites...
Surface analysis and coating characterization
Failure analysis: cracking, rupture, corrosion, study of the quality of welds...
Inspection and non-destructive testing of materials
Materials inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT) are solutions that can be applied to a wide range of materials such as metals, alloys, composites, ceramics, plastics and even certain types of concrete.
The aerospace industry uses these techniques to inspect critical aircraft parts, while the nuclear and oil and gas industries use them to check the reliability of pipelines, tanks and sensitive components.
In the automotive, heavy industry and construction sectors, NDT ensures that welds, structures and equipment comply with the most stringent safety standards.
These methods are essential for detecting early defects, optimising product quality and preventing operational risks.
FAQ
Destructive testing (DT) destroys the part to test its mechanical limits (tension, compression), while non-destructive testing (NDT) preserves the integrity of the material while detecting defects (cracks, porosities) for quality control or maintenance purposes.
- Ultrasound: to detect internal defects in thick materials.
- Industrial radiography: to inspect welds and complex parts.
- Penetrant testing: to reveal surface cracks.
Magnetoscopy: to detect defects in ferromagnetic materials. - Eddy current: for rapid inspection of electrical conductors. Each method is tailored to specific needs, depending on the material, structure and type of defect required.
Non-destructive testing is widely used in a variety of sectors, including
- Aerospace: inspection of parts critical to flight safety.
- Energy: inspection of pipelines, tanks and nuclear components.
- Automotive: checking welds and metal parts.
- Construction: inspection of metal and concrete structures.
Non-destructive testing by magnetic particle inspection is a method used to detect surface or near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials, such as steel or iron. The technique involves magnetising the inspected part, creating a magnetic field. If discontinuities (cracks, inclusions, etc.) are present, they disturb the magnetic field and cause leakage. A magnetic powder, usually coloured or fluorescent, is then applied to the surface. It accumulates where the field is disturbed, revealing the defects. This process is fast, accurate and widely used in sectors such as the aerospace, automotive and metallurgical industries
