-New-equlpmen held within industry, at universities and at Sira. Among the programme of events is industrial applications of holography, scheduled for November 1990.

Sira Ltd, South Hill, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5EH, UK

extensive use for differentiating between water and gas pipes revealed by road excavation. The new introduction is certified to EEx ia IIC T4, permitting operation within zone 0 conditions explosive atmospherically, such as that encountered in refineries.

Intrinsically safe pipe checking

Baugh and Weedon Ltd, Beech Business Park, Tillington Road, Hereford, HR4 9Q J, UK

The Pipecheck ultrasonic tester for ascertaining whether pipes contain liquid or gas is available from Baugh and Weedon in an intrinsically safe version, making it suitable for use in explosive atmospheres.

The original version is in

Computer-control led hardness inspection of ferrous metal parts

The Hentschel SSE-3200 computer-controlled hardness

analyser, from K. J. Law Engineers, is an eddy current instrument for sorting complex metallurgical properties in cast or forged gears, bearing, spindles, shafts, yokes and similar parts. In particular it is useful for testing multiple part characteristics (surface hardness, case depth, material strength, etc). A wide dual test frequency range (5 Hz to 10 kHz) allows the instrument to sort for two test conditions simultaneously, or a fundamental frequency and its third harmonic. Dual power amplifiers can drive two test coils or eight test probes, and supply high magnetization levels for sorting of induction hardened or carburized parts.

K. J. Law Engineers Inc, 42300 W. Nine Mile Road, Novi, Michigan 48050-3627, USA

=Previews I I I J I II

Review of progress in quantitative NDE

Taking place from 15-20 July 1990, the 17th conference in the series will cover both the basic science and early engineering developments in quantitative NDE and closely related technologies such as materials characterization and process control that use these techniques.

The scope will include advances in:

• Fundamentals of QNDE methods (f ield-f law interactions and field-property relations, scattering, probability of detection, inverse methods and their application to flaw sizing and property measurements, process models, reliability of measurement and component inspectability)

• Flaw imaging and

reconstruction, image analysis • Signal processing methods

including application of advanced techniques

• Sensors, transducers and probes for flaw detection, material property measurement and process control

• New and emerging techniques and systems

• Reliability and inspectability • Materials characterization

(properties, stress, processes, weldments, etc)

• QNDE for advanced materials (composites, electronic materials and devices, ceramics)

• QNDE for civil structures and materials

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 22 April 1990 .

Connie Nessa, Iowa State University, Center for NDE, Applied Sciences Center, Ames, 1,4 50011, USA

Nondestructive evaluation of modern ceramics The American Society for Nondestructive Testing is holding a conference on nondestructive evaluation of modern ceramics, in Columbus, Ohio, from 9 -12 July 1990. Co-sponsored by the American Ceramic Society, it will examine methods of nondestructive evaluation which are being developed and applied to relate NDE measurements to relevant physical properties of modern ceramics. One focus will be the expansion and implementation of NDE technology to the functions of process control and defect detection in structural, electronic and thermal barrier ceramics.

Papers have been invited on the following topics: characterization of powders, whiskers and fibres;

NDT International April 1990 125