Magnetic nanoemulsion-based flux leakage sensor

Motivation: The industrial ferromagnetic bodies (e.g., railroads, pipelines, etc.) require regular quality control assessments to detect defects growing inside them. Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is one of the most popular and handy defect detection techniques. The most established MFL techniques are Hall probe, search coil, GMR sensors, etc. However, they require time-consuming raster scanning and rigorous post-processing and numerical modelling. On the other hand, our lab developed a thin magnetic nanoemulsion sensor which rapidly shows colorful optical patterns in presence of defect without the requirement of raster scanning or complicated data handling. Though the sensor is developed, no quantitative analysis was conducted to increase its defect detection sensitivity by mantaining the stability of magnetic nanoemulsion. This will be helpful detect hairline cracks or deeply buried defects. 

SMARTS Group at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, India.