Materials Method an SBIR Success
nondestructive thermal spray coating porosity and thickness measurement method was dubbed a success and gained notoriety before its development was complete under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. JENTEK Sensors Inc. of Watertown, Massachusetts, has sold several GridStation™ Measurement Systems, developed as part of its Phase II SBIR contract with Goddard Space Flight Center, to both government users as well as commercial entities, before completing its SBIR work.
The system includes the JENTEK MWM™, an advanced conformable eddy current sensor, JENTEK's impedance instrument board and JENTEK's GridStation™ software environment. Also, JENTEK has developed dielectric sensors for ceramic porosity measurement.
JENTEK developed the GridStation™ Measurement System based in part on a NASA need to develop a method of performing nondestructive characterization of thermal spray coating porosity and thickness. The GridStation™ Measurement System solves this problem as well as provides a method for measuring coating thickness and other properties of numerous materials—ceramics, metals and composites. It can also provide age degradation monitoring, including fatigue, corrosion and thermal aging.
The approach developed by JENTEK for this process differs from conventional methods. The sensor signals are induced by specially configured, conformable arrays, minimizing the requirement for precise positioning of the sensors. Quantitative results can be provided in real-time without user interpretation. In addition, JENTEK's proprietary model-based approach uses "measurement grids" to reduce calibration requirements and increase repeatability, reproducibility and robustness.
The sensors are thin and conformable and can provide measurements on flat, convex, concave and conical surfaces. Accurate property determinations can be obtained—regardless of the shape of the part being tested—without recalibration for variations in curvature and without extensive special training or education.
While Goddard intended to use this innovation to characterize anodizing thickness, spacecraft contamination and thermal protection coatings, NASA's Lewis Research Center purchased the system to aid in the characterization of ceramic thermal barrier coatings for turbine blade applications. JENTEK has also tested the system for performing very early stage crack detection in stainless steel, aluminum and other metals. This early stage fatigue detection capability provides a new tool for monitoring fatigue life and detecting the onset of widespread fatigue damage. This is a capability on which JENTEK hopes to expand. JENTEK has worked with several companies, including Raytheon/E-Systems and Alcoa, in testing this capability.
JENTEK was a Spinoff Achievement Award winner at the 1997 Technology 2007/New England Showcase for "demonstration of the most innovative and commercially-significant product applying technology developed by, for, or with the federal laboratory and university R&D community."
For more information, contact Neil Goldfine at JENTEK Sensors.
Call (617) 926-8422, Fax: (617) 926-8744, E-mail: jentek@shore.net
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