X-ray inspection systems for the defense industry

Materials science plays a central role in the defense industry by contributing to the development of advanced materials. Relevant trends include lightweight construction, ballistic protection and sensing materials, energy storage, stealth technology, nanotechnology, and composites. Interdisciplinary research fosters innovative solutions, but ethical considerations are important in the development and application of these technologies to minimize harm and promote peace.

Importance of materials testing in defense

Materials testing plays a critical role in the defense industry. It ensures the safety and reliability of military systems, optimizes their performance, enables adaptation to new threats, and helps optimize costs. Materials testing is important for quality control and protection of the armed forces as well as their missions.

Military systems must be extremely reliable and safe, as they are often used in critical situations. Materials testing ensures that the materials used can withstand the intended loads and will not fail, protecting human lives and material resources. Materials testing allows engineers to select the best materials for specific applications and improve the performance of weapons, vehicles, and other military equipment. This can help military systems become more efficient, faster, more durable, and more capable.

Using X-ray technology and CT for materials testing

X-ray technology and computed tomography (CT) are used in various applications in the defense and armaments sector for materials testing. Here are some areas where these technologies are important:

Weld inspection

Detection of material defects

Identification of inclusions

Quality assurance in manufacturing and assembly

Research into new materials

Explosive material

The use of X-ray and CT technology enables non-destructive testing of materials, which is critical in many cases to ensure the integrity and quality of materials and components used in defense and defense systems. These technologies can minimize potential safety risks and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of military equipment.

Application example: testing of solid rocket motors

Solid rocket motors can experience various failure modes that can affect their performance and safety. Some common failure modes are:

Blowholes: Blowholes are voids or pores in the solid fuel that are inclusions of gases during the manufacturing process.

Cracks: Cracks can occur in the solid fuel or the rocket motor shell and can be caused by stresses or material fatigue.

Delamination: Delamination refers to the detachment of material layers or structures in the rocket motor, which can lead to a reduction in structural integrity.

All of this can lead to irregular combustion and consequent uneven thrust development and degradation of the projectile's trajectory. X-ray technology can be very helpful in detecting these failure modes in solid rocket motors. The use of X-rays can produce images of the internal structure of the rocket motor without the need for physical destruction of the motor. This allows for non-destructive examination and evaluation of the quality and integrity of the motor. X-ray inspection can provide high-resolution detail to determine the location, size, and shape of these defect images. This allows engineers to identify potential problems early and take appropriate action to ensure the safety and performance of the rocket motor.

By using X-ray CT scans, it is even possible to create three-dimensional images of the internal structure of the motor. This allows for even more detailed analysis and a better evaluation of the structural integrity of the motor. Overall, X-ray technology provides an effective method for defect detection and quality control of solid rocket motors, optimizing their performance and safety.

Challenges of materials testing in the defense industry

X-ray inspection in the defense industry presents specific challenges, including secrecy and security, the size and complexity of the objects being inspected, radiation protection, simulation of real-world conditions, testing of composite materials, speed and efficiency, and achieving high detection limits. Nevertheless, X-ray inspection is essential because it provides nondestructive examination and helps ensure the quality, safety, and performance of military systems. Ongoing research and development are critical to meet these challenges and optimize inspection processes.

Choosing the right partner for your testing system

The quality control requirements of companies and materials laboratories in the defense industry vary widely and can be broadly divided into three categories: 

Suppliers processing lower volumes require manual systems for small batches or single inspections. Here, the ECO H-Series is the perfect system family for smaller components.  Medium volume inspection needs require more automation of 2D inspection, CNC systems, and batch loading. Automated data processing has become more important.

In the case of extremely high volumes, for example in series testing, high-performance inline systems with automatic evaluation are required. In this way, the shortest cycle times can be achieved.

Another application is high-precision computed tomography for metrological or forensic applications. These measuring machines must be housed in an air-conditioned measuring room.

Selecting the right system can be complex, and a good decision must weigh many parameters such as size, speed, cost, etc. Contact our product specialists for further advice

Contact us today

Improve the quality and safety of your components with our state-of-the-art X-ray systems and CT systems. Contact us today to learn more about our material inspection solutions. Our team is always available to answer your questions and develop a customized solution for your needs.

Contact our experts to talk about your projects and challenges

Adrian Hollweg Bacazar, Teamlead Inside Sales

Jeffrey Darby, General Manager North America

Nikita Fedorov, Gobal Sales Channel Manager

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