Anti-wear Probe Shoes for NDT Straight and Angle Probes

• Hard protective film: Commonly made of alumina (corundum), ceramic sheets, metal sheets or plexiglass. It has high wear resistance and strength, suitable for situations where the workpiece surface finish is high and flat.
• Soft protective film: Usually made of polyurethane soft plastics, typically a transparent plastic film about 0.3 millimeters thick. Suitable for workpieces with low surface finish or certain curvature, improving acoustic coupling and enhancing acoustic energy transmission efficiency.

• Good wear resistance: Resists friction from workpiece contact, reducing probe wear and extending service life.
• High strength: Withstands pressure and friction during detection without breaking.
• Low sound attenuation: Minimal effect on ultrasonic waves to ensure detection accuracy.
• Good sound transmission: Excellent sound transmission minimizes energy loss without affecting signal quality.
• Appropriate thickness: Thickness affects ultrasonic wave penetration rate and probe resonant frequency.

The probe film of straight probes covers the piezoelectric wafer, separating it from the workpiece to prevent direct contact and wear. Angle probes typically use wedges to direct ultrasonic waves, with some also using protective films following similar principles to protect the wafer while ensuring effective wave propagation.

• Hard protective films are usually pre-installed during probe manufacturing.
• Soft protective films require coupling agent application before installation.
• During installation, press the protective film tightly against the measurement surface to expel air and ensure optimal fit.

All solid protective films cause some sound wave distortion, reducing resolution and sensitivity (more severe with hard films). Selection should be based on actual detection requirements to minimize impact on results.