Stainless steel imitative crack using X-ray LIGA with suspension electroplating technique

Abstract

In this research, the Synchrotron X-ray lithography (X-ray LIGA) was implemented to fabricate imitative Stress Corrosion Crack (SCC) for using as a reference specimen of electromagnetic NDT. A pattern of the imitative SCC was created by using X-ray LIGA with controllable shape and size in precise details. The pattern created had a high aspect ratio, which was formed on SU-8 polymer. As a preliminary experiment, the prepared pattern was inserted into a block of pure Nickel formed by an electroplating technique. To develop a reference comparable to stainless steel in terms of electromagnetic response, the technique called “Suspension Electroplating” was implemented to create a block of material from its powder form. A rough magnetic response was then measured by Eddy Current Testing (ECT). The results showed the possibility of creating the desired properties of stainless steel. The SCC pattern will be then inserted to become the reference specimen.