An evaluation of the performance of an uncooled microbolometer array infrared camera for transient thermography NDE

Transient thermography images of artificial defects in a carbon fibre composite test piece obtained using a cooled focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera are compared with those obtained using an un-cooled microbolometer array camera. Signal to noise ratios of each defect image are computed to provide an objective comparison of the performances of the two cameras. The cooled FPA infrared camera exhibits a higher ultimate defect detection capability than the un-cooled microbolometer array camera but this camera has the advantages of much smaller size and lower cost.