The research group consisting of Professor Yutaka Oyama, Graduate School of Engineering, Associate Professor Tadao Tanabe, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials (IMRAM), Tohoku University, Research Assistant Kaori Nakajima, and Experimental Assistant Tomoyuki Hamano, graduate school of engineering, has successfully established that Terahertz light radiation can be safely used for the inspection of copper wire inside covered insulated conductor cables, which cannot be seen with either visible or infrared radiation. Taking advantage of its known characteristics, Terahertz light radiation can pass easily through any exterior covering made of polymer resin, including plastic, but is highly reflective from metals such as copper. The known qualities of the high reflective radiation changes with even the slightest presence of rust on the copper wire, thus the condition of the wire including the presence or absence of rust or the minute breaks can be determined without removal of surrounding insulator . At present, the maintenance and inspection of insulated cables has been carried out by experienced workers by cutting the power source and visually inspecting the cables by stripping the surrounding insulator. . By use of this sophisticated novel method, the deterioration of copper wire can be inspected without cutting the power source, removing the insulator , nor experienced workers which greatly improves inspection efficiency. This terahertz new technology can be also applied to detect cracks and corrosion under invisible painted metal surfaces as in bridges, automobile sheet metal, undercoating, etc. on top of determining the state, condition, and deterioration of jacketed cables.

 The research results will be presented at the Electrochemical Society (ECS) Meeting to be held in Hawaii, U.S.A. on October 7th.

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Yutaka Oyama

Division of Optoelectronic Materials

Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Address: 6-6-11-1020 Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan

TEL: +81-22-795-7327, FAX* +81-22-795-7327

E-mail: oyama*material.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)