2016 Volume 1 Pages 167-172
Infrared thermographic testing is now widely used for detecting delamination from a distance such as outer wall inspection. In this article, we would like to demonstrate infrared thermographic testing can also be used for ocean deployed buoys. First, to heat a buoy with a radiant heater effectively, spectral emissivity of the buoy paint is measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The experimental measurement shows that the buoy paint has low emissivity in the nearinfrared region and high emissivity in the far-infrared region. Second, halogen and xenon lamp heaters are used for an effective distance heating method. The halogen lamp heater gives higher radiant energy than the xenon lamp heater because the halogen lamp heater has broader spectral energy (i.e., more energy in the far-infrared region). Infrared thermography with the halogen lamp heater can detect 5-mm diameter paint delamination at 6 m. CO2 laser can also possibly be used to inspect delamination. However, there are several issues with this technique which should be resolved.
