Nondestructive evaluation of materials with the scanning laser acoustic microscope

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of materials using scanning laser acoustic microscope (SLAM) is described. The operating principles of SLAM are explained. The applications of SLAM presented include industrial examples of nondestructive evaluation of structural ceramics, fiber-reinforced composite materials, electronic and electrical components and materials, and examples from biological research. It is concluded that SLAM provides a highly efficient method for materials inspection, but its utility is limited by absorption and/or scattering of the ultrasonic waves. The importance of selecting frequency and specimen thicknesses that minimize these effects is stressed.<
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