Physical properties have been investigated for an new elastomer designed specifically for ultrasonic inspection applications. Unlike dry couplants normally used as an integral part of ultrasonic probes, this elastomer can be applied independently of the probe. Acoustic impedance of the new material is very nearly the same as water and its attenuation coefficient is lower than all other documented elastomers and many plastics. Applications for nondestructive testing include flexible couplant pads, low reverberation dry contact testing of thin wall material and low velocity delay lines.
Table 3: Attenuation (dB) of Elastomers Relative to Water ( in dB)
Table 4: Tabulation of Properties of the Dry Couplant Elastomer
Figure 1: Attenuation Coefficient of New Dry Couplant (raw data)
Figure 2: Dry Coupled Probe to IIW Block
Figure 3: FFT's Comparing Frequency Shift of New Polymer to Lucite (Perspex)
Table 5: Signal Analysis of FFT's in Figure 3
Keywords: [Acousto-optical visualization] [Concrete testing ] [Delay lines ] [Devolepment ] [Dry couplant] [Dry Couplant Transducers] [Elastomer] [Frequencies ] [Latex rubber ] [Low velocity ] [Low attenuations] [Neoprene rubber ] [Plastik] [Polymer] [Properties] [Rubber] [Rough surfaces ] [Rubbery state ] [Shear waves ] [Signal Analysis, FFT ] [Temperature ] [Thin walled materials] [Transducer] [Ultrasonic] [Wheel probe ] [Wood testing ]