Toolform Case study:
Non-Destructive Testing Group

Non Destructive Testing on Forged and Formed Titanium Components

TIMET material has been used to create the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao (Photo courtesy TIMET)

The Toolform programme, joint funded by the DTI, Yorkshire Forward and Objective 1, has assisted in the development of non-destructive testing for staff working with forged and formed materials at a South Wales based titanium producer.

TIMET, located in Waunarlwydd near Swansea, is the company's UK facility for producing titanium rolled plate and formed sheet products. As the demand grows for titanium products, TIMET, as a leading titanium producer, must respond accordingly to be able to capitalise on the increasing market for titanium in components used in aerospace, automotive and biomedical applications. A need for increased non-destructive testing capability was identified as the result of this, with improved efficiency and throughput to enable the company to deliver it's commitments.

The Toolform programme is an ideal opportunity to bring TWI's expertise in non destructive evaluation techniques, coupled with the latest equipment and know-how, to this leading UK producer of high quality forged titanium alloy products. TWI has the added benefit of a physical presence in South Wales, occupying at site at the ECM2 (European Centre for Manufacturing and Materials), Margam, Port Talbot. The new NDT Validation Centre was officially opened on 6 February 2006 and houses a variety of equipment from digital radiography, laser shearography, eddy current array inspection, time of flight diffraction, phased array ultrasonics, immersion ultrasonics, thermography, tomography and long range guided wave ultrasonics. Techniques such as UT, MPI and dye penetrant are standard tests required for certifying forged aerospace components.

Biomedical implants such as hip replacements are examples of high quality components made using TIMET titanium alloys (Photo courtesy TIMET)

Assistance in the use liquid penetrant testing on forged and formed products was provided by TWI under the Toolform programme. Training and certification in NDT methods was developed by TWI under the Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel (CSWIP) in the 1970s. It continues to be a major part of programme. TWI can offer training and certification for all aspects of non-destructive training including dye penetrant, magnetic particle examination and ultrasonic testing, all of which are required for rolled titanium aerospace products. For further information, please email us on: ndt@twi.co.uk.

This support, provided to TIMET, was made possible through the Toolform Strand of the Advanced Metals Technology Initiative (AMTI) funded by the DTI, Yorkshire Forward and the European Union through the South Yorkshire Objective 1 programme. The AMTI project is managed by NAMTEC, the National Metals Technology Centre.

For more information on the Toolform programme, please contact: Eliana Fu (email eliana.fu@twi.co.uk.