Development of a Thermophysical Handy Tester for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Engineering Materials

Techniques of quality inspection and non-destructive diagnosis of engineering materials have been developed as procedures for determining various physical properties. The diagnostic techniques are usually based on detecting a very delicate signal concerned with changeable properties, and therefore detecting such a signal requires a great deal of experience in the procedures. In situ measurement for thermophysical properties of engineering parts is also important for judgment of the intrinsic soundness of the parts or for distinction between similar materials. The purpose of this study is the development of a thermophysical properties handy tester that can be used to simultaneously measure thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity and can be applied to the non-destructive diagnosis of numerous engineering materials. The tester consists of a portable data-acquisition unit, a probe holder equipped with a thermal probe, and a notebook computer. Measurements can be carried out by merely bringing the probe into point contact with a testing body for a period of 10 s. The thermal probe is constructed from a thin thermocouple in order to satisfy conditions based on the measurement principle. Materials that can be measured include polymeric resins, glasses, ceramics, alloys, and pure metals, among others.