Scotia NDT Services ltd

This method of inspection is very versatile and can be undertaken both at our purpose-built facilities in Annan or onsite at the client’s location.

At Scotia NDT we offer a purpose-built water washable penetrant inspection system allowing for efficient and cost-effective testing of large batch quantities such as Fasteners.

On-site testing can be undertaken using Dye Penetrant Testing using fluorescent or color contrast methods – this is used mainly for the inspection of castings, forgings, welds, etc.

Dye Penetrant Testing is used for the detection of surface-breaking defects in all non-porous ferrous and non-ferrous materials of any size including metals, plastics, and ceramics. Typical applications would be forged, cast, or welded components that suffer from a high risk of cracking and other surface flaws.

A visible or fluorescent dye (either solvent or water-based) is applied to the surface of the component and can be applied in a variety of processes including spraying, brushing, dipping, or full immersion of the component into the dye penetrant element.

During the penetration time (dwell time), the dye penetrates any surface-breaking flaws through ‘capillary action’. Excess dye is removed from the surface of the item under test and a developing agent is applied, this draws the dye out of any surface-breaking flaws through a process of reverse ‘capillary action’ revealing any flaws in the component for visual inspection.

At Scotia NDT, we can work quickly and efficiently to reduce customer costs, whilst maintaining the highest quality of standards.

We have MPI Benches capable of testing components up to 1m in length.

We can handle large batch quantities of forgings and machined components with quick turnaround on all inspections.

For smaller items such as “Fasteners” we have a portable MPI bench unit capable of testing up to 350mm in length, which can be mobilized to the site with an experienced technician, reducing lead times and cost on the transportation of the components to be inspected.

For inspection of welds on pipe spools or structural steelwork, can be carried out in-house or on-site quickly and cost-efficiently with the aid of portable electro-magnets.

MPI is one of the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient methods for detecting surface or near-surface defects on a variety of ferromagnetic components.

This technique is used to detect internal flaws within components by sending short wavelength sound waves of high and low frequency into the test material. This method can be used on a range of base materials, most commonly steel, but other metals and alloys can be as well.

Ultrasonic sound waves are typically introduced into the item under test via an ultrasonic source, coupling media, and hand-held probe. As the sound travels through the item, reflected echoes return from the back surface and any internal discontinuities will reflect the sound, generating a signal identified on the monitor. The thickness of a material and the location/distance of any present flaws can also be determined via the calculation of the echo time lags recorded.

Scotia NDT can perform conventional and advanced ultrasonic testing on large or small components at our test facility or on-site utilizing the very latest portable, fully calibrated, flaw detectors from Sonatest.

Phased Array (PAUT) is an advanced method of Ultrasonic Testing that has many applications in industrial sectors of Non-Destructive Testing.

Typical applications for PAUT are corrosion mapping of tank shells and weld inspection such as pipeline butt welds.

Phased Array Ultrasonic testing provides a high degree of accuracy when determining the size and shape of discontinuities and flaws; with the ability to locate sub-surface defects and better depth penetration when compared to other NDT methods.

At Scotia NDT we offer the latest in RVI equipment in the form of the Olympus IPLEX Range of video scopes. Capable of producing high-quality images and videos of difficult-to-reach places in a short space of time resulting in less downtime and costly shutdowns.

Our video scopes are regularly used on assets such as boilers, steam and gas turbines, generators, heat exchangers and condensers, tanks, and vessels including associated pipework, rotating equipment, and welds for flaws and corrosion.