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The medical ultrasonic phased array technology was modified for the non-destructive testing of marble sculptures and the feasibility of the approach was evaluated. For this purpose, 1 MHz, 64-channel phased array electronic and phased array transducers were developed. The specifications of the electronics and the transducers are presented and discussed. Ultrasound images of inner structures of a marble sculpture are presented. The problem of the acoustic matching layers for different states of deterioration is discussed and the developments in view of a suitable matching layer solution are presented. This matching layer is combined with a new coupling technique that protects the marble surface. The results of experiments on ultrasound phantoms and on a marble sculpture are presented

A new class of materials for ultrasonic acoustic matching layers is presented. The materials exhibit nanoscale cerium oxide particles with diameters between 10 nm and 15 nm in an organic inorganic hybrid polymer matrix. By the content of particles the acoustic impedance of the material can be adjusted on values between 4 MRayl and 7 MRayl. The materials are synthesized by a hydrolytic condensation combined with polymerization. This way of synthesis allows the use of organic solvents to adjust the viscosity of the sol and the application of different coating techniques. 100 MHz zinc oxide ultrasound transducers were produced with a photolithographic technology and measured with the new matching layers. The measurements showed a significant increase in voltage signal amplitude with the new matching layer