Application of lock-in thermography non destructive technique to CFC armoured plasma facing components

A non destructive testing technique – so called modulated photothermal thermography or lock-in thermography – has been set-up for plasma facing components examination. Reliable measurements of phase contrast were obtained on 8 mm carbon fiber composite (CFC) armoured W7-X divertor component with calibrated flaws. A 3D finite element analysis allowed the correlation of the measured phase contrast and showed that a 4 mm strip flaw can be detected at the CFC/copper interface.