Eddy current testing is a non-contact electromagnetic testing technique used for the inspection of conductive materials without the need to remove non-conductive coatings. An alternating current is passed through a coil in order to create an alternating magnetic field which is used to induce a localised current (eddy current) into the material under test. Eddy current is routinely used to inspect a wide range of different materials and components across several fields of engineering including oil and gas, nuclear, power generation and aerospace.

Some advantages of eddy current inspection include:

• Sensitive to small cracks and other defects
• Detects surface and near surface defects
• Inspection gives immediate results
• Equipment is very portable
• Method can be used for much more than flaw detection
• Minimum part preparation is required (sensitive to ‘lift-off’ from spatter, etc.)
• Test probe does not need to contact the part
• Inspects complex shapes and sizes of conductive materials
• Test through paint/non-conductive coatings up to 2mm thick