Thermography

Active thermography is a non-contact, non-destructive testing method that visualizes temperature distributions in components. Through targeted thermal excitation and the analysis of infrared radiation, defects such as delaminations, cracks or material-related anomalies can be detected quickly and reliably. Ideal for quality assurance, process control and preventive maintenance.

Thermography records the infrared radiation emitted by an object and visualizes it as a temperature distribution. A distinction is made between passive and active thermography: while passive thermography uses temperature differences that are already present, active thermography introduces energy in a controlled manner to generate a defined heat flow within the test material.

Defects such as cracks, pores, delaminations, air inclusions or faulty joints influence this heat flow and create characteristic temperature patterns. High-resolution infrared cameras capture these changes, while advanced evaluation methods make even small thermal deviations visible.

Depending on the testing task, excitation can be optical, electromagnetic or mechanical. This makes active thermography suitable for a wide range of materials and components – from metallic semi-finished products and complex-shaped parts to fiber-reinforced composites, coatings and bonded structures.

As a non-contact technology, thermography enables fast, full-field inspection and can be used both in laboratory applications and in automated production and testing processes.

The most suitable method depends on factors such as the material, component geometry, defect type and required inspection depth. Different active thermography methods are available for these varying requirements.