Chesapeake Testing Assisting the NTSB Using Advanced X-ray Computed Tomography to Inspect Battery Units and Components

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced the award of a service contract to Chesapeake Testing to provide non-destructive testing in support of an investigation.Citing Chesapeake Testing’s close proximity to Washington D.C, its unique technical qualifications, and the ability to quickly respond to the required timeframe for this requirement, the NTSB is sending lithium ion-type battery cells to Chesapeake Testing for x-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning.CT scanning, which has been widely used in medical diagnosis since the 1980s, is becoming a very familiar technology outside of the medical field, thanks to higher power systems with superior resolution. New advances in CT technology allow scientists and engineers to use 100% non-destructive procedures to gather information on the internal structure of a component; information that would normally require destruction of the component in order to obtain. This information can assist in many types of evaluations including, failure analysis, forensic investigations, evidence preservation, dimensional verifications, material analysis, and reverse engineering.Chesapeake Testing is an industry leader, providing CT scanning services to its customers in many different industries. With multiple scanning systems, including a unique 450kV micro-focus vault-based CT scanner, high-resolution 3-D images can be produced that allow engineers to visualize the insides of materials, even metals and ceramics. Chesapeake Testing is an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited test laboratory certified to perform testing for the National Institute of Justice, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Department of State.

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