CORDIS Database:  RESULTS
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Ultrasonic probes for non-destructive testing, industrial measurement, energy and environmental applications

Record Control Number : 30933
Quality Validation Date : 2003-11-24
Update Date : 2003-11-26
Abstract : A French SME has developed specialised know-how and original 
		technological processes based on the concept of piezoelectric 
		composites with a ceramic-polymer structure for the production of 
		ultrasonic probes. The company is able to develop high-performance 
		and innovative solutions for a wide range of industrial 
		applications such as non-destructive testing, industrial 
		measurement, energy and environmental monitoring applications. The 
		company proposes manufacturing and marketing agreements.
		
		This French SME has built an expertise in the design and 
		manufacture of ultrasonic probes and transducers for applications 
		in medicine, industry and environment.
		It has developed new ultrasonic probes based on the concept of 
		piezoelectric composites for many industrial applications requiring:
		
		- Automated inspection of various pieces and materials
		- Variable angles and sound path
		- Difficult access for the probes (reduced space or complex 
		geometry) 
		- Inspection of thick pieces or non-homogeneous materials 
		inspection
		- Adaptation to environmental constraints.
		The piezoelectric composite technology with a 1-3 ceramic-polymer 
		structure is arranged in microstructures which geometry and 
		components directly impacts the performance. The microstructure of 
		the material is defined so that all the waves subject to excitation 
		could have a wavelength higher than the microstructure itself. If 
		this condition is respected, the piezo-composites material behaves 
		like a homogeneous material in a frequency range from 200 kHz to 
		more than 20 MHz.
		This allow high performance and innovative solutions with a great 
		flexibility:
		- For the creation of phased array transducers (linear, annular, 
		matrix) 
		- To have large range of active surface shaping for direct beam 
		steering or focusing (spherical, cylindrical, conical or aspherical 
		surfaces) 
		- With wide bandwidth and able to withstand high temperatures - up 
		to 250°C.
		These probes are suitable for non-destructive testing (power 
		generation, aeronautics, railways, automotive industry, 
		petrochemical, metallurgy) , industrial measurement (liquid and gas 
		flow, thickness and distance measurement) , energy and 
		environmental applications (sonochemistry, geological applications, 
		underwater applications, imaging) .
		
		Main Advantages:
		These probes offer
		- Great flexibility (access, geometry, etc.)  with regards to 
		inspection methods
		- Efficiency and precision higher than conventional probes
		- Adaptability to harsh environment.
Subject Descriptors : Medical imaging, Civil engineering, Inspection, testing, Method, 
		work study, Product design
Subject Index Codes : Medicine, Health, Construction Technology, Measurement Methods, 
		Industrial Manufacture
Subject Class : Biology, medicine, IT, telecommunications, Materials, industrial 
		manufacturing technologies
Market Applications : Diagnostic reagents, Health monitoring, care
Stage of Development : Prototype/demonstrator available for testing
Remarks : IRC Data: AFC/O/F-2003/04
Property Rights : Secret know-how
Collaboration Sought : Marketing agreement, Manufacturing agreement, Information 
		exchange/Training, Other
Collaboration Detail : - Type of partner sought: Industry
		Research organisations
		- Specific area of activity of the partner
		Device manufacturers/ Research organisations
		- Task to be performed
		Manufacturing complete instrumentation with integrated probes

Contact Details
  Contact Name : VIEUX, Anne-Marie
  Contact Organisation : Chambre Regionale de Commerce et d'Industrie de Bourgogne
  Address : B.P. 87009
Parc de l'EuropePlac
  City : Dijon
  Region : BASSIN PARISIEN
BOURGOGNE
Côte-d'Or
  Postcode : 21070
  Country : FRANCE
  Telephone Number : +33-381-474207
  Fax Number : +33-381-807094
  Electronic Mailbox : amvieux@franche-comte.cci.fr
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