Active and passive thermography for defect detection in polymer joints

Abstract

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a growing field in quality monitoring in the plastics industry, as it offers the possibility to lower the expenses for quality assurance without lowering the quality level. Passive thermography is being established as a method for automatic on-line monitoring of the weld quality in joined plastics. Active thermography is an established method in quality assurance of composite materials, but further experience is necessary in the field of polymer joints. In this work, passive and active thermography have been evaluated for their sensitivity to common defects known in weld joints and adhesive bonds of polymers.