EMAT Testing Services
What Is It
Couplant-Free Ultrasonic Testing with EMAT
IRC Engineering’s EMAT testing generates ultrasonic waves directly inside the material - no couplant, no direct contact, no surface-prep headaches.
Standard ultrasonic testing relies on a liquid couplant to transmit sound into the material. This can create problems on hot, rough, scaled, moving, or hard-to-access surfaces.
EMAT testing was developed to work around these limitations.
Suitable for:
- Hot surfaces
- Rough or scaled surfaces
- Moving components
- Hard-to-access areas
Why EMAT
Where EMAT Delivers Real Advantages
No Couplant Required
Eliminates a major source of inspection error and slowdown.
Works on Hot Surfaces
Suited to elevated-temperature inspection where conventional UT struggles.
Handles Rough and Scaled Surfaces
Reduces the need for extensive surface preparation.
Environmentally Clean
No coupling fluid is required.
How It Works
Our EMAT Testing Method
Ultrasonic waves are generated directly within the material itself.
Surface Current Induction
A coil induces electrical currents at the surface of a conductive material.
Magnetic Interaction
The induced currents interact with a magnetic field.
Ultrasonic Wave Generation
This interaction creates a Lorentz force, generating an ultrasonic wave inside the material.
Signal Detection
The same process works in reverse to detect the returning signal.
Small Standoff Inspection
EMAT can operate at a small distance from the surface, including on hot, moving, or scale-coated parts.
Our Toolkit
Our EMAT Testing Capability
Couplant-Free Inspection
No liquid coupling medium is needed.
Small Standoff Distance
Inspection can be carried out without direct physical contact.
Hot-Surface Testing
Inspect hot components without cooling downtime.
Rough & Scaled Surfaces
Reduce extensive surface-preparation requirements.
EMAT enables ultrasonic inspection where conventional UT reaches its limits.
Where We Apply It
Typical EMAT Applications
In-Service Pipe Wall Measurement
Measure wall thickness on in-service pipes.
In-Service Tube Wall Measurement
Measure wall thickness on in-service tubes.
Hot Components
Inspect hot components without cooling downtime.
Why IRC
Advanced Technology, Backed by Established Standards
Certified Inspection Framework
EMAT is applied within the certified framework that governs IRC’s advanced NDT work.
ASNT Level-II Inspectors
Inspection support from ASNT Level-II certified professionals.
ASNT Level-III Inspectors
Inspection expertise from ASNT Level-III certified professionals.
Right Method Selection
Our inspectors know when EMAT is the right call.
Practical Inspection Guidance
We advise when another method will better serve the inspection requirement.
Inspect the surfaces conventional UT can’t reach.
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