Can you UT test stainless steel?
Stainless Steel Testing Using Ultrasonic and Eddy Current NDT
Stainless Steel Testing Using Ultrasonic and Eddy Current NDT
Stainless steel is a widely popular material used in a range of industries including aviation, manufacturing, oil and gas, and more. Its corrosion-resistance properties and high strength make it a desirable material to work with even in a highly corrosive environment. The critical use of stainless-steel components in varying operations makes it mandatory to ensure that there are no flaws that can cause potential harm to the structural integrity of a component. This requires industries to leverage non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies during stainless steel testing.
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The Need for Stainless Steel Testing
In a neutral and corrosive environment, stainless steel equipment is highly desired for its excellent properties. However, it is prone to flaws so it must be thoroughly inspected. Most of the flaws can be detected in the heat-affected zone around the welded joints. However, there can be metallurgical flaws in stainless steel resulting from inaccurate manufacturing parameters. During stainless steel testing, technicians can look for the possible presence of inclusions and cracks. It is also ideal to test for corrosion and thickness profile, especially in the heat-affected welded joints.
The Benefits of Using NDT for Stainless Steel Testing
NDT methods, ultrasonic testing (UT) and eddy current testing (ECT), are ideal for testing stainless steel structures and equipment to ensure their strength and integrity.
UT Inspection of Stainless Steel
In the welding process of stainless steel, factors like lack of proper surface preparation can increase the possibility of inclusions and resulting pores and cracks. Although the anisotropic coarse-grain structure of stainless steels and dissimilar metal welds can cause inspection challenges, using advanced UT techniques with innovative equipment can result in efficient, robust inspection procedures.
Ultrasonic testing involves a transducer emitting ultrasonic beams to the stainless-steel surface. The beams can be focused, and the amplitude of the reflected beam compared to identify the type, sizing, and location of the flaw. Phased-array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) with low-frequency 2D matrix array probes can be ideal to better navigate this challenge. The ability to vary frequency levels makes the inspection of components with varying wall thickness possible and the identification of a wide range of flaws easier.
ECT Inspection of Stainless Steel
Eddy current testing can be useful in testing surface flaws like cracks in stainless steel tubes. An ECT probe induces an alternating current into the conductive stainless steel creating a field. Any change in the amplitude is an indication of potential flaws like cracks in the component.
With eddy current array (ECA) technology, the examination can be simplified. The ability to provide surface and near-surface inspection for a wide range of geometry also provides industries with the time-saving and cost-effective inspection opportunity.
In corrosive or extreme temperature applications, where stainless steel components can be an important part, the strength and integrity of such equipment are crucial. The reliable testing ability of NDT methods like PAUT and ECA ensures the proper identification of stress cracking, corrosion, inclusions, and other types of degradation. The pre- and in-service inspection ability provided by innovative PAUT and ECA probes are advantageous for industries to ensure operational and employee safety.
UT and ECT Solutions for Stainless Steel Testing
With stainless steel being used in different application areas, it is important for industries to recognize the potential problems that can be present in different stress or temperature limits. Especially in critical applications involving corrosive environments, where stainless steel is trusted for its mechanical properties, the need for flaw detection is even higher.
NDT technologies are now an integral part of industries responsible for ensuring the integrity of stainless steel components. In stainless steel testing, UT and ECT technologies can identify discontinuities that may impact structural integrity. The ability to identify a flaw allows industries to take proper action to ensure the safety and productivity of the operation.
Zetec, a leader in NDT technologies for over half a decade, is here to assist with your stainless steel testing needs, offering a wide range of eddy current and ultrasonic non-destructive testing technologies. To learn more, contact us today.
Re: UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic)
Dharmvir Kumar
Engineering,
NDTS,
India,
Joined Oct
3
Engineering,NDTS,India,Joined Oct
20:49 Sep-25-
https://www.ndt.net/forum/thread.php?msgID=#
UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic) 20:49 Sep-25-
How is doing UT on weld joints of stainless steel( Stabilized Austenitic Grade) is different from doing on Carbon and low alloy steels ? which equipments and accessories we should prefer to use while doing UT on SS ? what are the precautions and judgements we should practice while scanning as well as evaluating a echo which comes during scanning of SS weldments ?
Consultant, Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc , Canada, Joined Apr ,
458 14
Paul Holloway
Consultant,
Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc ,
Canada,
Joined Apr
458 14
Consultant,Holloway NDT & Engineering Inc ,Canada,Joined Apr
00:13 Sep-26-
https://www.ndt.net/forum/thread.php?msgID=#
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Re: UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic) 00:13 Sep-26-In Reply to Dharmvir Kumar at 20:49 Sep-25- (Opening).
Dharmvir,
Have you tried the Google? It's the greatest!
search: "ultrasonic testing austenitic stainless steel"
Top ten hit, everything you wanted to know co-written by the late Mr. Michael Moles:
https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/applications/improved-ut-inspection-austentic-welds/
Anmol Birring
Consultant,
Birring NDE Center, Inc.,
USA,
Joined Aug
4
Consultant,Birring NDE Center, Inc.,USA,Joined Aug
03:12 Sep-26-
https://www.ndt.net/forum/thread.php?msgID=#
Re: UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic) 03:12 Sep-26-In Reply to Dharmvir Kumar at 20:49 Sep-25- (Opening).
Quite different than carbon steel. Stainless steel is anisotropic
In general shear waves can be used for SS thickness > .75 inches
For thicker sections, you may have no choice but to use refracted Longitudinal waves. But it depends on grain size and grain alignment.
Again
Shashank Vagal
India,
Joined Jun
76
India,Joined Jun
10:03 Sep-26-
https://www.ndt.net/forum/thread.php?msgID=#
Re: UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic) 10:03 Sep-26-In Reply to Dharmvir Kumar at 20:49 Sep-25- (Opening).
Ultrasonic waves travel in ASS in a progressively irregular manner resulting in &#;false indications&#; along its path mainly due to back reflections from different planes of dendritic weld metal and large grain size. This is more pronounced in case of transverse waves. Mode conversions at interfaces, scattering and absorption add to the problem. C Scan or TOFD technique for multiple layer scans using longitudinal waves would be a better approach for improved detectability and test sensitivity. More details required to establish a proper procedure can be obtained by testing a mock up piece, using various frequencies, probe sizes and scanning patterns, and characterizing indications from known reflectors.
Anmol Birring
Consultant,
Birring NDE Center, Inc.,
USA,
Joined Aug
4
Consultant,Birring NDE Center, Inc.,USA,Joined Aug
14:30 Sep-26-
https://www.ndt.net/forum/thread.php?msgID=#
Re: UT on Stainless steel (Austenitic) 14:30 Sep-26-In Reply to Anmol Birring at 03:12 Sep-26- .
Correction to my previous post
In general shear waves can be used for SS thickness upto 0.75 inches.
For thicker sections, you may have no choice but to use refracted Longitudinal waves. But it depends on grain size and grain alignment. Note that L-wave has limitation as it can be used only in 1/2 vee
TOFD does not work on SS
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Water Ripple Stainless Steel Sheet.