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Eingeladener Vortrag
- nein (56)
Ultrasonic investigation of inhomogeneous anisotropic materials such as austenitic welds is complicated because its columnar grain structure leads to curved energy paths, beam splitting and asymmetrical beam profiles. A ray tracing model has potential advantage in analyzing the ultrasonic sound field propagation and there with optimizing the inspection parameters. In this contribution we present a 2D ray tracing model to predict energy ray paths, ray amplitudes and travel times for the three wave modes quasi longitudinal, quasi shear vertical, and shear horizontal waves in austenitic weld materials. Inhomogenity in the austenitic weld material is represented by discretizing the inhomogeneous region into several homogeneous layers. At each interface between the layers the reflection and transmission problem is computed and yields energy direction, amplitude and energy coefficients. The ray amplitudes are computed accurately by taking into account directivity, divergence and density of rays, phase relations as well as transmission coefficients. Ultrasonic sound fields obtained from the ray tracing model are compared quantitatively with the 2D Elastodynamic Finite Integration Technique (EFIT). The excellent agreement between both models confirms the validity of the presented ray tracing results. Experiments are conducted on austenitic weld samples with longitudinal beam transducer as transmitting probe and amplitudes at the rear surface are scanned by means of electrodynamical probes. Finally, the ray tracing model results are also validated through the experiments.
Progress in acoustical defect sizing NDT methods for the inspection of power-plant components
(2012)
The demand of improved NDT methods with proper visualization and sizing
capabilities is a persistent trend in maintenance and manufacturing quality inspection.
Especially when dealing with high quality standards in conjunction with safety-critical
components in the sector of energy and transportation quantitative NDT techniques are
vital to provide reliable quality control systems and a corresponding deeper insight into
the component structure for a further fracture-mechanical estimation. The paper thus
focuses the progress of the defect sizing capabilities of modern Ultrasonic Testing
(UT). In Ultrasonic Testing the SAFT-algorithm (Synthetic Aperture Focusing
Technique) currently experiences a renaissance. The method is based on combining the
data of different transducer positions with their corresponding varied propagating time
and it is currently applied in several industrial applications. SAFT enhances the SNR
and the spatial resolution and is thus a valuable tool when it comes to improved
defect detection and sizing. A tomographic-like data mapping is illustrated on several
examples, where adapted phased array systems were used for the inspection of turbine
components and also for a cladded mock-up of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. In a
statistical investigation we also performed a comparison with other defect sizing
methods like TOFD (Time of flight diffraction).
GMR sensors are increasingly used for magnetic surface inspection due to their high
sensitivity and high spatial resolution. In case of simple planar or cylindrical shaped
components, the GMR-based inspection procedure can be automated easily. In order to
reduce the inspection time we present a GMR-based NDT-system consisting of a yoke
and a coil as a local magnetization unit. This way the global magnetization step and, if
necessary, the corresponding demagnetization cycle can be avoided reducing the
number of working steps. Using a local probe we measured plates, bearings, and rails,
each of which containing real fatigue cracks and reference artificial cracks of different
depths and orientations. Cracks with a depth of 40 ìm could be resolved with a signalto-
noise ratio of about 20. A reduction of the measuring time can be obtained using a
sensor array. We present an optimized sensor array for nondestructive testing
application, where gradiometric arranged GMR layers were fabricated on a board with
up to 48 GMR sensors. Each sensor detects the vertical field gradient. In our example
the baseline was chosen to be 250 ìm which efficiently suppress external background
fields without losing sensitivity for the detection of surface breaking defects.
We report on recent developments in the detection of surface breaking cracks using
flying laser spot thermography. Application of an infrared camera for mapping the
thermal radiation after excitation with a diode laser equipped with an optical scanner
allows us to examine a surface containing cracks in an entirely non-destructive,
contactless and fast way, without even moving the camera. We developed an efficient
and robust algorithm that can be applied directly to the recorded thermal sequences,
and that derives a single image containing all crack signatures. For this crack detection
technique, no specific synchronisation between laser and camera is required. Hence,
our approach is suitable for an upgrade of existing thermographic systems. The
feasibility of the proposed procedure is proven by testing an artificial test sample and a
piece of rail that comprises roll contact fatigue cracks and by comparing the results
with magnetic particle testing.
Polypropylene based ferroelectret films exhibit a strong electromechanical activity and provide a promising solution for the air coupled ultrasonic (ACUS) transducers. Ultrasonic transmission between two air coupled ferroelectret transducers in dependence on the amplitude and polarity of the high voltage exciting pulse revealed a strongly non-linear electromechanical response of the ferroelectret transmitter which provides an increase in the transmitter efficiency. The authors present a simple model describing both promotion and competition of the piezoelectric and electrostriction contributions, as well as increase in the transducer constant under high voltage excitation. Enlargement of the inverse transducer constant of the polypropylene ferroelectret film by a factor of 4 was demonstrated. The non-linear properties of the polypropylene ferroelectrets result in a strong increase in their ACUS figure of merit under the high voltage excitation, which exceeds the results of their technological optimisation. Consequently, enhancement of the ACUS system transmission by 12 dB and signal to noise ratio by 32 dB was achieved.
The paper presents numerical methods to detect and classify defects and inhomogeneities by means of active thermography. The objective is to determine the wall thickness of structure elements with an inaccessible back wall, for example, of pipes or Containers. As test specimens we used approximately 2 cm thick PVC samples with spatial variations in the back wall geometry. Flash lamps provided the heating. To know the thickness of the wall, we used two inversion methods and compared the results achieved. One is an iterative echo defect shape method and already tested on Steel test specimens with good reconstruction results. The second one is the Levenberg-Marquardt method, applied here to thermographic data for non-destructive testing. Since data capturing using active thermography and the presented numerical methods can easily be automated, the combination of these two procedures is a promising approach providing a broad area of application.
When dealing in ultrasonic testing with inhomogeneous and anisotropic material structure such as
diverse types of components made from austenitic or nickel based cast, which are currently used
for modern power plant concepts, data interpretation is quite difficult. For better understanding of
the complex interaction between the sound field and the component under test, the mathematical
modeling of sound propagation in solids is a substantial task to increase the probability of
detection of relevant defects.
First we present a mathematical approach for modeling the three dimensional transient
particle displacement as a function of time in each point in a half space excited by an impulsive
point load at the surface. The transient ultrasonic field of a rectangular array element is calculated
with this approach by a point source synthesis. Based on this solution we model the wave
propagation of a phased array transducer by time delayed superposition of the wave field of the
transducer elements.
Next we use an electrodynamic technique to visualize the grazing sound field at the surface
of a test block radiated by a phased array probe. By detecting the grazing beam at the samples
surface with a small electrodynamic probe, we measured the particle displacement as a function of
time. It allows for measuring the displacement in all three spatial directions. This comprises the
detection of the horizontal and vertical particle displacement with respect to the surface and thus
also the detection of longitudinal and shear waves is possible.
The calculated and measured wave fields will be compared for different delay laws in
isotropic and transversely isotropic media. The results support the theoretical activities to model
the wave propagation and to find optimal testing parameters for different components and
configurations.
Fast defect parameter estimation based on magnetic flux leakage measurements with GMR sensors
(2011)
We present a fast inverse scheme that is capable of simultaneously estimating the parameters depth, opening and length for rectangular 3D geometries of surface-breaking defects. The parameter estimation is realized by an iterative least-squares minimization using the trust-region reflective algorithm. A semi-analytic magnetic dipole model that allows the sensor characteristics to be incorporated is used for predicting the stray magnetic fields. Giant magneto-resistance (GMR) measurements were carried out on a test specimen that includes a series of artificial defects. For the estimation of the defect depths relative errors between 0.6% and 15.9% have been obtained. Due to its very low computational costs, the inverse scheme can suitably be employed in automated production environments.
In dieser Arbeit wird ein kameragestütztes Verfahren zur Flying-
Spot-Thermografie vorgestellt. Die Anregung wird über einen Diodenlaser mit einem optischen Scanner realisiert. Bei der Auswertung kommt ein effizienter und robuster Algorithmus zum Einsatz, der direkt auf die mit der Kamera aufgenommene Thermografiesequenz angewendet werden kann, ohne auf eine
Synchronisation zwischen Kamera und Lasersystem angewiesen zu sein. Daher eignet sich diese Herangehensweise besonders zur Nachrüstung bestehender Thermografiesysteme.
Die prinzipielle Eignung dieser Methode wird anhand einer Messung an einem Schienenstück mit Rollkontaktermüdungsrissen gezeigt. Als Referenzverfahren werden die Magnetpulverprüfung und eine auf GMR (Giant Magnetoresistance)- Sensoren basierende Streufeldmessung herangezogen. Mit dem thermografischen Verfahren konnten sämtliche enthaltenen Fehler erkannt werden. Dabei wurden Risse im mm-Abstand getrennt nachgewiesen, was etwa der geometrischen Auflösung der eingesetzten Kamera entspricht.
In diesem Beitrag werden numerische Verfahren zur Erkennung und Charakterisierung von Fehlstellen, Schichtdicken, Wanddicken und Inhomogenitäten mittels aktiver Thermografie vorgestellt. Eine uantitative Beurteilung der nicht immer zugänglichen Rückwand eines Bauteils (Minderdicken) ist durch Inversion thermografischer Messdaten möglich. Diese quantitativen Informationen können durch iterative Methoden vom Gauß-Newton-Typ (Inversion) gewonnen werden. Als reale Prüfobjekte werden ca. 2 cm dicke PVC-Platten mit örtlich variierender Rückwandgeometrie untersucht. Die Erwärmung erfolgt mit
Blitzlampen, welche die PVC-Platte kurzzeitig um mehrere K erwärmt. Ein wichtiger Teil der Inversion ist die Simulation des Experiments, welche mit Finite-Elemente-Methoden (FEM) in 2D realisiert wird. Da Inversion und active Thermografie automatisierbar sind, bietet die Kombination breite Anwendungsgebiete innerhalb der Industrie.
Die Kombination der Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) mit der Tauchtechnik stellt eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Zwei für SAFT notwendige Bedingungen – die große Schallbündeldivergenz und die Kenntnis über den Ort des Senders bzw. des Empfängers, der für die phasenrichtige Überlagerung der Echosignale genau bekannt sein muss – lassen sich einfach erfüllen, wenn kleine, fast punktförmige Sensoren direkt auf der Oberfläche des Prüfobjektes ankoppeln. Diese Anordnung ist in der Regel nicht vereinbar mit den praktischen Ansprüchen an die Signalqualität und die Flexibilität der Prüftechnik.
Werden jedoch Prüfköpfe mit üblichen Abmessungen und zudem noch mit Vorlaufstrecken verwendet, dann ist die Bestimmung der Sensororte und der Schalllaufwege durch die brechende Fläche nicht mehr trivial, wenn man die für SAFT geforderte Genauigkeit in Rechnung stellt.
Etwas anderes, aber ein im Prinzip einfacher Weg zur räumlichen Lokalisation von Echoquellen ist die Auswertung des 2D Sektorscans eines Matrixarrays und dessen dreidimensionale Darstellung. Durch gezielte Steuerung des Arrays gelingt auf einfache Weise die ortsrichtige Zuordnung.
Thermoacoustic generation of airbone ultrasound using carbon materials at the micro- and nanoscale
(2011)
Progress in Acoustical Defect Sizing NDT Methods for the Inspection of Power Plant Components
(2011)
In this contribution a simulation tool is developed to compute the energy skewing angles and energy coefficients
for the reflected and refracted plane waves in following general cases: (1) reflection and refraction
of plane elastic waves at an interface between isotropic and transversely isotropic solid, (2) reflection
and refraction of plane elastic waves at an interface between transversely isotropic and isotropic solid, (3)
reflection and refraction of plane elastic waves at an interface between two general transversely isotropic
solid and (4) reflection of plane elastic waves from a stress free boundary of a transversely isotropic solid.
Computational results for analytically evaluated acoustic wave energy skewing angles and energy reflection
and transmission coefficients in acoustically anisotropic materials such as austenitic steel materials
exhibiting columnar grain orientation are presented. The obtained results show that the acoustic energy
skewing angles and coefficients in austenitic steel materials strongly depend upon the columnar grain
orientation and are less influenced by the grain orientations which are parallel and perpendicular to the
interface.
Active thermography is a nowadays widely used NDT method making use of thermal material properties for defect detection. Basically, the sample is heated and the resulting surface temperature is recorded by an IR camera. For laser thermography a laser is used to heat the sample locally. The resulting spherical heat flow allows the detection of voids in arbitrary orientation. In this work, a method is presented which is suitable for the quantitative characterization of depth and angle of surface cracks. The main idea is to evaluate the crack-caused asymmetries of the laser's thermal footprint. The heat is introduced at fixed reference positions relative to the crack. In this paper a data analysis procedure is presented which allows the crack depth and angle to be described by only two characteristic scalar parameters. By investigating artificial test specimens with spark eroded notches, the feasibility of this method is validated. Furthermore, the behavior of the characteristic parameters with variations of crack angle, depth and experimental conditions is studied systematically by FEM simulations, showing that these parameters are well behaved.
GMR-Sensor Arrays ermöglichen eine örtlich hoch aufgelöste Messung magnetischer Streufeldamplituden an Stahlbauteilen, bei der abhängig von der Größe der zu prüfenden Oberfläche erhebliche Datenmengen erzeugt werden.
Eine automatische Detektion von Rissen kann anschließend mittels digitaler Bildverarbeitung erreicht werden, welche hauptsächlich auf einer Kantenerkennung basiert. Diese wurde anhand einer Magnetometer-Messung getestet, die an einem zylindersymmetrischem Bauteil mit funkenerosiv eingebrachten Rissen geringer Tiefe durchgeführt wurde. Die erzielte Selektion der Defekte wird für eine angestrebte Rekonstruktion der Defektgeometrie benötigt.
The structures and properties of silver selenide samples strongly depend on the method of preparation. Thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) contain lamellae of two low-temperature modifications of Ag2Se whose structures were analyzed in detail by electron microscopy techniques. Besides the stable and known Naumannite-type phase (LT1), a metastable phase was observed (LT2), and the phase transformation was examined in situ. Via cooling and annealing, LT2 becomes dominant in thin films, thus enabling solving the structure of LT2 by electron diffraction. These experiments and HRTEM point to an Acanthite-type (stable low-temperature modification of Ag2S) structure of LT2. Rapid-quenching procedures were applied for the first synthesis of LT2 as bulk sample. Depending on the conditions of melt spinning experiments, well-defined products were formed. In one series, we found a separation of LT1 and LT2 into distinct morphologies, i.e. microspheres and dendrites, respectively. The results on the magnetoresistance of the rapidly quenched materials support previous work.
High-precision magnetic field sensors are of increasing interest in non destructive testing (NDT). In particular GMR-sensors (giant magneto resistance) are qualified because of their high sensitivity, high signal-to-noise ratio and high spatial resolution. We performed magnetic flux leakage measurements of artificial cracks with a GMR-gradiometer and a 3-axes GMR-magnetometer. Cracks of a depth of 44 μm still could be detected with a sufficient high signal-to-noise ratio. A semi-analytic magnetic dipole model was used for swiftly predicting magnetic stray fields. The reliable reconstruction based on measurements of artificial rectangular-shaped defects is demonstrated.
In diesem Beitrag wird ein neuartiger Ansatz zur Erzeugung von Luftultraschall vorgestellt, der auf dem thermoakustischen Prinzip beruht. Mikro- und nanostrukturierte Kohlenstoffmaterialien werden dabei mit einem harmonischen Wechselstrom gespeist und erfahren durch ohmsche Verluste eine Temperaturänderung, die sich auf das umgebende Fluid überträgt. Daraus resultieren Druckmodulationen, und es wird eine ausbreitungsfähige Schallwelle erzeugt. Dabei tritt Frequenzverdopplung gegenüber der Anregungsfrequenz auf. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass der entscheidende Parameter für die Effizienz der Methode, d.h. für ein möglichst großes Verhältnis von Schalldruck zu eingebrachter Leistung, die Wärmekapazität pro Flächeneinheit ist. Da dieser Quotient für Kohlenstoffmaterialien sehr klein sein kann, erlaubt das thermoakustische Prinzip hier die effiziente Erzeugung von Luftultraschall. Schalldruckmessungen an verschiedenen Materialproben wurden bis 100 kHz mit einem Mikrofon durchgeführt, oberhalb von 100 kHz wurde eine laservibrometrische Schnellemessung eingesetzt. In experimentellen Untersuchungen wurde die Schallerzeugung in Abhängigkeit der Materialeigenschaften analysiert und systematisiert. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse wurden mit numerischen und analytischen Berechnungsergebnissen verglichen.
Vor allem in der Automobilindustrie wird das Widerstandpunktschweißen im großen Unfang zur Verbindung von Blechen im Karosseriebau verwendet. Durch den anhaltenden Trend zum Leichtbau und den immer höheren Anforderungen an die passive Sicherheit kommt es hier zu einem verstärkten Einsatz innovativer hochfester Stähle. Obwohl es sich beim Punktschweißen um ein lange erprobtes Verfahren handelt, das sich anhand der Prozessparameter und regelmäßiger zerstörender Prüfung überwachen lässt, ist durch diese Entwicklung die Suche nach geeigneten zerstörungsfreien Prüfverfahren wieder aktuell. Wegen der hohen Produktionsgeschwindigkeiten in der automatisierten Fertigung muss sich das Prüfverfahren für eine hundertprozentige Prüfung vollautomatisch mit der typischen Taktrate von etwa einem Hertz durchführen lassen.
In dieser Arbeit wird zuerst die prinzipielle Durchführbarkeit der thermografischen Prüfung von Punktschweißverbindungen an speziell präparierten Proben überprüft. Auf dieser Grundlage wird eine Serienuntersuchung an 75 Proben, die sich auf drei Gruppen von Schweißparametern aufteilen und neben optimal geschweißten Proben typische Fehlerbilder repräsentieren, eine Serienuntersuchung gezeigt. Hierzu wird eine Blitzlichtanregung in Transmissionsanordnung verwendet.
Es kann gezeigt werden, dass sich mit einer geeigneten Datenaufbereitung die einzelnen Gruppen sicher trennen lassen. Durch eine statistische Bewertung der Ergebnisse kann unter Verwendung eines angepassten Gütekriteriums die Trennschärfe noch deutlich erhöht werden.
Impulse and lock-in thermography have been applied to detect delaminations of prototype solder joints, similar to those to be produced between Cu shunts and Cu busbar stabilisers at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. Two infrared cameras with different detector materials and with different spectral ranges and two excitation techniques have been tested and compared for their ability to detect delaminations behind 2 and 3 mm thick Cu shunts. We have analyzed the signal to noise ratio (SNR) for each detected defect and are able to detect defects down to a nominal edge length of 4 mm behind 2 mm thick Cu shunts by using fast impulse thermography and a camera with a microbolometer array. For the 3 mm thick Cu shunt, on the other hand, the nominal 4 mm defect is only visible in the lock-in thermography phase images and the highest SNR has been achieved with a cooled InSb-based camera. In addition, numerical simulations show the influence of the minimum detectable defect size on the shunt thickness and that the developed on-site testing technique is sufficient to find all defects that are detectable theoretically.
Ferroelectrets are promising materials for air-coupled ultrasonic transducers. A transducer made of polarized cellular polypropylene, including its electronic interface, was developed and compared with conventional air-coupled probes. Test pieces of fiber-reinforced polymer containing impact flaws and flat-bottom holes were inspected in transmission. The ferroelectret transducers achieved a considerably higher signal-to-noise ratio. The impacts were clearly visible with all transducers, but less noisy with ferroelectret transducers. The flat-bottom holes were better detectable than with a conventional probe with about the same focus size.
Untersuchungen zur 2D- und 3D-Rekonstruktion von Rückwandgeometrien in der Impuls-Thermografie
(2012)
Ultrasonic examination of anisotropic inhomogeneous austenitic welds is challenging, because of the columnar grain structure of the weld leads to beam skewing and splitting. Modeling tools play an important role in understanding the ultrasound field propagation and optimization of experimental parameters during the ultrasonic testing of austenitic welds as well as the interpretation of the test results. In this contribution, an efficient theoretical model based on the ray tracing concepts is developed to calculate the ultrasonic fields in inhomogeneous austenitic welds quantitatively. The developed model determines the ultrasound fields by taking into account the directivity of the ray source, the inhomogenity of the weld as well as ray transmission coefficients. Directivity of the ray source in columnar grained austenitic materials (including layback orientation) is obtained in three dimensions based on Lamb's reciprocity theorem. Ray energy reflection and transmission coefficients at an interface between two general columnar grained austenitic materials are calculated in three dimensions. The ray tracing model predictions on inhomogeneous austenitic weld material are compared against those from CIVA, a commercial non-destructive modeling and simulation tool. The ultrasonic modeling tools in CIVA are based on semi-analytical solutions. For beam propagation simulation, a so-called 'pencil method' is used, which involves modeling the probe as a set of individual source points, each radiating 'a bundle' of diverging rays into the medium and integrating those elementary contributions. Inhomogenity in the weld region is approximated by mapping the grain orientations on weld macrograph. Simulation results for ultrasonic field profiles for an austenitic weld are shown to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results.
Spot welding is one of the most important technologies for joining sheet metal. While there are lot of approaches to non-destructive testing, quality assurance still mainly relies on welding parameter monitoring and destructive testing, leading to significant failure rates. In this paper an approach to spot weld testing using flash thermography is presented. The main focus of attention is on the identification of two typical error classes: stick welds and welds at the splash limit. Besides investigating the principal feasibility of thermography for zinc plated samples the results of a series test of spot welds joining 1 mm thick TRIP steel are shown. Based upon these results a statistical criterion is developed which allows a reliable classification of the named error classes.
Für die luftgekoppelte Ultraschall-Prüfung wird der Prototyp eines neuartigen Prüfkopfes vorgestellt. Statt eines piezokeramischen Ultraschall-Wandlers mit einer λ/4-Anpassschicht wird eine Ferroelektret-Folie aus schaumförmigem Polypropylen eingesetzt. Durch die außerordentlich geringe akustische Impedanz der Folie reduzieren sich die Reflexionsverluste an den Grenzschichten zur Luft so stark, dass bei diesem Prüfkopf auf eine λ/4-Anpassschicht verzichtet werden kann. Außerdem ist die Folie hochspannungsfest. Sie konnte mit Spannungen von mehr als 3500 V angesteuert werden und erlaubte eine Vorspannung am Ultraschall-Wandler des Empfangsprüfkopfes von 2000 V. Mithilfe der hohen Anregungsspannung stieg die Amplitude des akustischen Prüfimpulses auf das 11,2-Fache. Die Empfindlichkeit des Empfängers erhöhte sich durch die Vorspannung weiter um den Faktor 4,3. Insgesamt steigt die Amplitude am Empfänger also auf das 48-Fache, bei gleichbleibendem Rauschpegel. Ein abschließender Vergleich mit kommerziellen Luftultraschall-Prüfköpfen belegt die Überlegenheit der Folien-Prüfköpfe. Damit rückt der Einsatz einer vollwertigen Impuls-Echo-Technik auch bei der luftgekoppelten Ultraschallprüfung deutlich näher.
In this contribution we present a novel thermo-acoustic approach for the generation of broad band airborne ultrasound and investigate the applicability of resonance-free thermo-acoustic emitters for very short high pressure airborne ultrasound pulses. We report on measurements of thermo-acoustic emitter consisting of a 30 nm thin metallic film on a usual soda-lime glass substrate, generating sound pressure values of more than 140 dB at 60 mm distance from the transducer and compare the results with conventional piezoelectric airborne ultrasound transducers. Our experimental investigations show that such thermo-acoustic devices can be used as broad band emitters using pulse excitation.
Epitaxial thin films of nitrogenated La0.65Sr0.30MnO3 were grown on MgO(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The nitrogenation was achieved by a continuous nitrogen flow in the PLD chamber with pressures of up to 0.12 mbar. The chemical analysis of the samples regarding the exchange of oxygen by nitrogen was achieved by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, sputtered neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and yielded a content of incorporated nitrogen ranging from 0.6% to 3.8%. Without nitrogenation the electrical resistivity of La0.65Sr0.30MnO3 exhibited a metalinsulator (MI) transition at about 180 K. The magnetoresistance (MR) effect (ΔR/R(0)) was about -50% at the transition temperature. Our nitrogen contents affected the MI transition so as to completely disappear and resulted in a resistivity increase of more than three orders of magnitude as well. By carefully reoxidizing the samples with subsequent heat treatments in air the MI transition reappeared at lower temperatures and we found a continuously enhanced MR ratio for decreasing temperatures. MR ratios of more than -99% were observed for a magnetic field of 10 T. The results are interpreted as a percolation phenomenon of ferromagneticmetallic domains within an antiferromagneticsemiconducting matrix.