Electromagnetic Acoustic Testing (EMAT) generates ultrasonic waves directly in the steel using electromagnetic induction — no couplant, no surface contact, no special surface prep. TechCorr uses EMAT for high-temperature pipe scanning, online monitoring, and rapid screening where conventional UT is impractical.
What is EMAT?
EMAT uses a coil and magnet to induce eddy currents in the steel; those currents interact with the magnetic field to generate ultrasonic waves directly in the material. Because the transducer never needs couplant or intimate contact, EMAT scans hot, rough, scaled, and coated surfaces that defeat conventional UT.
When should I choose EMAT over conventional UT?
EMAT is the right choice for high-temperature piping (up to 500°C and beyond), online scanning of operating lines, and rapid screening of long pipe runs where surface prep is impractical. It is a core tool in our Online Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance & Autonomous Inspection programs.
Can EMAT inspect pipes that are in service?
Yes — that is its primary use case. EMAT scans operating lines at temperature without isolation, feeding corrosion-rate data into your Asset Integrity Management workflow so remaining-life calculations stay current between scheduled outages.
How accurate is EMAT?
EMAT measures wall thickness with accuracy comparable to conventional UT for the geometries it is designed for, and it does so continuously along a scan line rather than at isolated points. It supports ASME and API 570 inspection planning when applied and reported by qualified personnel.
What credentials back TechCorr's EMAT?
EMAT is performed by ASNT Level II/III technicians with EMAT method training, supervised by API 570-certified inspectors. Contact us to scope an EMAT monitoring program.