General Electric Company

Thomas R Edwards

John W Devitt

Thomas E Bantel

A method for nondestructive/noncontact detection of alpha case on a surface of a workpiece made of titanium or a titanium-based alloy. Infrared radiation is reflected off of a selected portion of the workpiece surface and sensed by a detector which may comprise a scanning infrared radiometer, an infrared camera, or a spot radiometer. The presence of any alpha case in the selected portion of the workpiece surface is detected by comparing the intensity of the reflected infrared radiation to a predetermined intensity known to be indicative of the absence of alpha case. An image of the reflected infrared radiation may be created and the step of detecting the presence of alpha case may include the step of comparing the intensity of the reflected infrared radiation within the image to the predetermined intensity. According to a preferred embodiment, a target may be disposed between the source of the infrared radiation and the workpiece surface so as to create a predetermined pattern within the image. In this embodiment, the step of detecting may further include the step of comparing the clarity of the predetermined pattern with the image created from the reflected infrared radiation from the selected portion of the workpiece surface to the clarity of the predetermined pattern within an inspection standard image known to be indicative of the absence of alpha case.

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Pelzer, SC, United States of America

Thomas R Edwards