Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) encompasses a range of inspection and measurement methods used to evaluate materials, components, welds, and equipment without impairing their future usefulness or serviceability.
NDT plays an important role in quality assurance, fabrication, construction, maintenance, and in-service inspection by providing information about the condition and integrity of materials and components without requiring them to be cut apart, damaged, or destroyed for examination.
Rivest Technologies Inc. provides a range of conventional NDT and material-testing services for industrial, fabrication, construction, and maintenance applications.
What Can NDT Detect or Evaluate?
Different NDT methods are designed to identify or evaluate different material and component characteristics. Depending on the method and application, NDT can be used to identify or assess:
Surface-breaking discontinuities
Near-surface discontinuities
Internal or subsurface discontinuities
Weld integrity
Material thickness and material loss
Corrosion and erosion
Cracks, porosity, inclusions, and other relevant discontinuities
Material and alloy composition
Material hardness
Ferrite content
Manufacturing and fabrication-related discontinuities
In-service deterioration
No single NDT method is suitable for every inspection. The appropriate method depends on factors such as the material, component geometry, type and location of discontinuities being sought, accessibility, applicable code or standard, and client requirements.
NDT Methods and Services
Rivest Technologies provides a range of NDT, material verification, and inspection-support services.
Radiographic Testing (RT) — Uses penetrating radiation to produce an image of the internal structure of a weld or component. Rivest provides conventional film radiography using Ir-192 gamma radiography and X-ray equipment.
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) — Uses high-frequency sound waves to examine materials for internal discontinuities and to measure material thickness. Rivest provides conventional manual UT, including weld, thickness, forging, and casting examinations.
Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) — Used to detect surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. Rivest provides dry visible powder, wet fluorescent, and visible colour-contrast MT.
Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) — Used to detect surface-breaking discontinuities in suitable non-porous materials. Rivest provides visible colour-contrast and fluorescent penetrant testing using solvent-removable and water-washable systems.
Positive Material Identification (PMI) — Uses portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology to identify and verify the elemental composition and alloy grade of metallic materials and components.
Hardness Testing (HT) — Portable Ultrasonic Contact Impedance (UCI) testing used to measure localized material hardness on suitable components, welds, heat-affected zones, forgings, castings, and other materials.
Ferrite Testing (FT) — Portable magnetic-induction testing used to measure ferrite content in suitable stainless steels, welds, and components. Results can be reported as Ferrite Number (FN) and ferrite percentage (%) as applicable.
Radiographic Film Digitization — Conversion of conventional industrial radiographic film into digital image files for electronic storage, organization, retrieval, and distribution.
Choosing the Appropriate NDT Method
Selecting an appropriate examination method depends on what needs to be evaluated.
Surface examination methods such as PT and MT are particularly useful for detecting discontinuities that are open to or located near the examination surface.
Volumetric methods such as UT and RT allow examination below the surface and can provide information about internal conditions within suitable welds and components.
Other techniques provide different types of material information. PMI verifies alloy composition, Hardness Testing measures material hardness, and Ferrite Testing measures ferrite content in applicable materials.
In some applications, more than one examination method may be used because the methods provide complementary information.
The applicable construction code, standard, engineering specification, inspection procedure, or client requirement ultimately determines the examination method and acceptance criteria for a particular inspection.
Qualified Inspection Personnel
Rivest Technologies' conventional RT, UT, MT, and PT examinations are performed by CGSB Level II certified technicians in the applicable NDT method.
Portable XRF/PMI examinations are performed by appropriately certified Level 1 and Level 2 XRF operators.
Ferrite Testing and portable UCI Hardness Testing are performed using specialized equipment and established procedures appropriate to the examination requirements.
Inspection techniques, equipment, calibration or verification requirements, examination coverage, evaluation, and reporting are established according to the applicable method, procedure, code, standard, or client specification.
Rivest Technologies NDT Services
Rivest Technologies Inc. provides both shop and field inspection services for industrial, fabrication, construction, maintenance, and quality-control applications.
Our combination of conventional NDT methods and specialized material-testing services allows us to provide inspection solutions for a wide range of materials, components, welds, and service conditions.
We focus on providing accurate inspection results, clear documentation, and responsive service while working to the requirements applicable to each inspection.
Need NDT Services?
Not sure which inspection method is appropriate for your application? Contact Rivest Technologies to discuss your material, component, applicable requirements, and inspection needs.
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