APPLICATION OF MICROFOCUS X-RAY TUBES FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF FRICTION STIR WELD JOINTS
This paper is devoted to non-destructive testing of friction stir welded structures. The specificity of friction stir welding with respect to radiographic testing and weld flaws is discussed. One of those weld flaws is the so-called kissing bonds defect which looks like a thin line in the cross section view. Also very small irregular shape voids may appear in the weld depending upon the welding process conditions. Traditionally used in radiographic testing equipment including X-ray source may not be effective for detecting those defects due to not small enough focal spot size. The use of X-ray film for detecting the friction stir weld flaws may not be efective due to necessity for operative testing very long welds. The outcome may be using microfocuse X-ray tubes and panel detectors mounted on a scanning device.