Magneto resistance sensors like GMR (giant magneto resistance) or TMR (tunnel magneto resistance) are widely used in industrial applications, examples are position measurement and read heads of hard disk drives. However, in case of non-destructive testing (NDT) applications these sensors, although their properties are outstanding like high spatial resolution, high field sensitivity, low cost and low energy consumption, never reached a technical transfer to an application beyond sci-entific scope.
This paper deals with benefits of GMR/TMR sensors in terms of high spatial resolution testing for different NDT applica-tions. The first example demonstrates the preeminent advantages of MR-elements compared with conventional coils used in eddy current testing (ET). The probe comprises one-wire excitation with an array of MR elements. This led to a better spatial resolution in terms of neighboring defects.
The second section concentrates on MFL-testing (magnetic flux leakage) with active field excitation during and before test-ing. The latter illustrated the capability of highly resolved crack detection of a crossed notch. This example is best suited to show the ability of tiny magnetic field sensors for magnetic material characterization of a sample surface. Another example is based on characterization of samples after tensile test. Here, no external field is applied. The magnetization is only changed due to external load and magnetostriction leading to a field signature which GMR sensors can resolve. This gives access to internal changes of the magnetization state of the sample under test.
Development of adapted GMR-probes for automated detection of hidden defects in thin steel sheets
(2016)
Thin steel sheets with a thickness of 0.3 mm and less are the base materials of many everyday life products (cans, batteries, etc.). Potential inhomogeneities such as non-metallic inclusions inside the steel can lead to a rupture of the sheets when it is formed into a product such as a beverage can. Therefore, there is a need to develop automated NDT techniques to detect hidden defects and inclusions in thin sheets during production. For this purpose Tata Steel Europe and BAM, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Germany), collaborate in order to develop an automated NDT-system. Defect detection systems have to be robust against external influences, especially when used in an industrial environment. In addition, such a facility has to achieve a high sensitivity and a high spatial resolution in terms of detecting small inclusions in the μm-regime. In a first step, we carried out a feasibility study to determine which testing method is promising for detecting hidden defects and inclusions inside ferrous thin steel sheets. Therefore, two methods were investigated in more detail – magnetic flux leakage testing (MFL) using giant magneto resistance sensor arrays (GMR) as receivers [1,2] and eddy current testing (ET). The capabilities of both methods were tested with 0.2 mm-thick steel samples containing small defects with depths ranging from 5 μm up to 60 μm. Only in case of GMRMFL-testing, we were able to detect parts of the hidden defects with a depth of 10 μm trustworthily with a SNR better than 10 dB. Here, the lift off between sensor and surface was 250 μm. On this basis, we investigated different testing scenarios including velocity tests and different lift offs. In this contribution we present the results of the feasibility study leading to first prototypes of GMR-probes which are now installed as part of a demonstrator inside a production line.
BAM und TATA Steel untersuchen gemeinsam, ob sich die Prüfung von ferritischen Feinblechen mit einer Stärke von etwa 0,2 mm während der Fertigung durch den Einsatz von GMR-Sensorik verbessern lässt. Hierzu wurde eine Vorstudie an Feinblechen mit eingebrachten Mikronuten durchgeführt. Diese Nuten variieren in ihrer Tiefe zwischen 5 μm und 60 μm und wurden verdeckt mit ZfP-angepassten GMR-Sensorarrays geprüft. Die Ergebnisse der Vorstudie zeigten, dass bei verdeckter Prüfung schon kleinste Defekte mit einer Tiefe von 10 μm - gleichbedeutend mit einer Restwanddicke von 90 % – mit einem SNR > 6 dB detektiert werden konnten, wobei der Abstand der Prüfsonde zur Oberfläche bis zu 500 μm betrug. Zudem wurden in der Vorstudie Untersuchungen zur Prüfgeschwindigkeit und Praxistauglichkeit durchgeführt.
Basierend auf den hier gewonnenen Ergebnissen wird ein erster Demonstrator für eine zuverlässige Prüfung eines Teilbereiches von 50 mm des Feinbleches innerhalb einer Produktionslinie aufgebaut. Zum Einsatz kommen Prüfsonden mit jeweils 24 GMR-Sensorelementen. Hierbei wird das Ziel einer umfassenden Prüfung des Feinblechs über die gesamte Breite von 1200 mm angestrebt. Eine besondere Herausforderung stellt dabei die hohe Anzahl von mehr als 1000 Sensorelementen dar. Das hierfür entwickelte Prüfkonzept umfasst neben einer angepassten Erzeugung des Magnetfeldes die Entwicklung einer geeigneten schnellen und sicheren Elektronik für die neuen Mehrkanalprüfköpfe. Neben der Vorstellung des Prüfkonzeptes und seiner Eigenschaften vergleichen wir die erzielten Prüfergebnisse an verschiedenen Vergleichsfehlern mit denen der Vorstudie.
Magneto-resistive (MR) sensor arrays are suited for high resolution eddy current testing (ET) of aerospace components due to two significant advantages compared to conventional coil systems. First, to obtain high spatial resolution they can be manufactured down to the µm-regime without losing their outstanding field sensitivity. Secondly, MR technology has a relatively frequency-independent sensitivity in the range of common ET-frequencies thus providing a benefit for low frequency applications.
This paper presents measurements using MR array probes consisting of 32 TMR-elements (tunnel magneto resistance), an ASIC, and subsequent readout components. A source for generating the eddy currents inside the material under test is also implemented onboard of the PCB. These probes were developed in the IMAGIC-project* for detection and imaging of surface breaking defects.
The performance of the new sensor system has been investigated for several mock-ups, Aluminum and Titanium plate specimens having small adjacent boreholes with diameter of 0.44 mm and micro notches in the µm-range, respectively. To compare our results we used conventional eddy current probes. The MR sensor elements have a length of around 60 µm leading to a nearly 'point like' measurement. Neighbouring boreholes (depth 0.25 mm) with a separation of 0.6 mm between their centres could be resolved with a good SNR, and more important, the boreholes could be confidently distinguished using the TMR-probes. In case of conventional probes a reliable separation was not possible. In this paper we present the MR-ET-probes of the IMAGIC consortium and a comparison with conventional techniques.
*The IMAGIC-project ('Integrated Magnetic imagery based on spIntronics Components', 2011 – 2014, project reference: 288381) was funded by the European Commission, Seventh Framework Programme. Further partners involved in the consortium beside BAM and CEA were INESC-ID and INESC-MN (Portugal), Sensitec GmbH (Germany), Tecnatom S.A. (Spain), and Airbus Group (France).
At BAM, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, a group of scientists develops NDT-applications based on GMR sensor technology. In particular, the knowledge gained in the field of automated testing systems based on the magnetic flux leakage (MFL) were combined with GMR sensors to achieve high resolution testing of ferromagnetic materials.
In cooperation with Europe's second largest steel producer, Tata Steel Europe, BAM is working on solutions for the detection of small inhomogeneities in thin steel plates. The objective is to incorporate an automated testing facility in a production line.
Before setting up an automated testing system, a feasibility study was carried out in order to verify the ability of GMR-MFL-testing and eddy current testing (ET) for the detection of hidden defects in thin steel plates. For this purpose, Tata Steel Europe fabricated in a first step test samples of 0.2 mm thick steel plates in which defects of different depth (5 – 60 µm) were introduced. Only in case of GMR-MFL-testing, we were able to detect parts of the hidden defects trustworthily with a SNR better than 10 dB. The lift off between sensor and surface was 250 ìm. On this basis, we investigated different testing scenarios including velocity tests and different lift offs. The achieved results for this special testing problem were presented leading to a practical example for GMR-based testing and paving the way to an automated testing system in a production line.
Seit einigen Jahren beschäftigt sich eine Gruppe der BAM mit der Entwicklung angepasster GMR-Sensorik (giant magneto resistance, Riesenmagnetwiderstand) für spezielle ZfP-Probleme. Hierbei wurden reichhaltige Erfahrungen auf dem Gebiet der automatisierten Streuflussprüfung mit GMR-Sensoren gesammelt (DACH-Tagung 2012, Graz).
Die an der BAM gewonnenen Erkenntnisse veranlassten Europas zweitgrößten Stahlhersteller, Tata Steel Europe, mit der BAM eine Lösung für ein spezielles Prüfproblem zu finden. Ziel ist es, dünne Bleche im Fertigungsprozess auf kleinste Inhomogenitäten automatisiert zu prüfen.
In einem ersten Schritt wurden durch die Tata Steel Europe 0,2 Millimeter starke Testbleche hergestellt, in die Fehler von 5-60 Mikrometern Tiefe eingebracht wurden. Anschließend wurden von der BAM vergleichende Prüfungen mit Wirbelstrom und GMR-Streufluss durchgeführt. Nur mit letzterer Methode gelang es, einen Teil der verdeckten Testfehler sicher zu detektieren. In einem zweiten Schritt wurden verschiedene Untersuchungen zur Praxistauglichkeit der Sensorik (Prüfgeschwindigkeit; Sensorabstand etc.) durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse der verschiedenen Untersuchungen und ein möglicher Weg zum praktischen Einsatz der Sensorik werden vorgestellt.