Non-destructive testing (NDT) refers to a range of inspection techniques used to determine certain characteristics of materials without damaging those same materials during the testing process. Non-destructive testing plays an important role in keeping our world safe by identifying flaws and other weaknesses in the integrity of things we take for granted such as vehicles, buildings, pipelines, bridges, and many others.

NDT is commonly used in engineering, quality control, and maintenance. As it doesn’t damage or alter the item being tested it’s an invaluable tool that, by identifying problems before they become acute, saves time and money while increasing safety. Non-destructive tests are performed in a manner that does not affect the future usefulness of the object or material being tested – hence, the name “nondestructive.” NDT allows for careful and thorough materials evaluation without the need for deconstruction or damage.

NDT can be used after a part or material is made for quality control purposes and it is often used at various points in a part’s or material’s life cycle. NDT performed while components or materials are in use can detect service-related conditions caused by wear, fatigue, corrosion, stress, or other factors. Examples of NDT Equipment include ultrasonic thickness gauges and handheld X-ray fluorescence analyzers.