T.O. 33B-1-14-794.7.2.2 MagneticMaterials.Use of general purpose instruments may be extended to the separation of magnetic materials where the product ofpermeability and conductivity of each of the alloys is clearly different. Conductivity meters will not measure theconductivity of magnetic materials.4.7.2.3 TypicalApplication.Eddy current techniques are used to separate metal parts or raw materials of similar geometry which have lost alloyand/or temper identification and have become mixed in manufacture or storage. Such procedures can be applied at anystage in the processing, storage, or service of the material.4.7.2.4 ControlOfHeatTreatment.The relationship between electrical conductivity and heat treat condition has permitted the use of eddy currenttechniques for checking the adequacy of heat treatment in aluminum alloys. In this application, conductivitymeasurements by eddy current techniques are used to supplement a minimum amount of tensile testing and/or hardnesstesting. Eddy current conductivity measurements are particularly valuable for determining the uniformity of heattreatment of large and complex aluminum alloy structures when tensile specimens are not obtainable and part geometrylimits accessibility for hardness testing. Adequacy of heat treatment of aluminum alloys is determined by conformanceof the material to the pre-established conductivity ranges. This method of heat treat control has been appliedextensively to aluminum alloys. Eddy current (electromagnetic) techniques are used also for evaluation of heattreatment of steels. Generally, more sophisticated instrumentation is employed for steels, but general purposeinstruments can be used for many applications. Acceptance standards are usually employed for eddy current inspectionof steel. Conductivity measurement is applied to a lesser degree for heat treat control of copper and magnesium alloys.Eddy current techniques can be employed for heat treat control in any alloy system where consistent but differentconductivity ranges or permeability values occur with the various heat treating conditions. Conductivity measurementhas not been established as a method of determining heat treat response in titanium alloys. Differences in conductivitybetween various heat treat conditions for most titanium alloys are insufficient to permit determination of temper.4.7.2.5 DeterminationOfHeatAndFireDamage.A common application of conductivity measurement in field applications is the determination of heat and/or firedamage to aircraft structures. Because of the extensive use of aluminum alloys for aircraft structures and theirsensitivity to mechanical property losses at relatively low temperatures, greatest experience and data have beengenerated for these materials. Heat and fire damage to other metals can be detected if temperatures become highenough to affect both conductivity and/or permeability and mechanical properties. For aluminum alloys, damage isdetected as deviations in conductivity from the specified range for the alloy and temper being inspected. Heat and firedamage usually vary over a part because of nonuniform application of heat. Nonuniform heat application, in turn,results in variations in electrical conductivity. Unless the temperature and time of heat application is known, or testingis performed on a number of parts with the same history of heat application, quantitative values of mechanicalproperties cannot be established from the electrical conductivity values.4.7.3 TestEquipment.4.7.3.1 DirectConductivityMeasurement.To determine conductivity directly, eddy current instruments are available which provide a value of conductivity in %IACS. These instruments do not cover the entire conductivity range. The most common range of instrument coverageis approximately 8 to 110 % IACS. Although instruments with other conductivity ranges are available, they have morelimited application and are not generally available at field bases. % IACS measuring instruments usually require onlytwo standards of known conductivity for calibration. US Navy unit - .5-105% with variable frequency.4.7.3.2 GeneralPurposeEquipment.If direct conductivity measuring equipment is not available, general purpose eddy current equipment may be adaptedfor measuring conductivity. Use of general purpose equipment requires a larger number of standards to establish acalibration curve. The number of standards necessary for a conductivity measuring application is determined by therange of conductivity to be covered and the accuracv required. General purpose equipment can also be employed in a
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business