Thermal imaging reveals the invisible Summary NPL saved a UK business a potential US$700,000 risk by using a thermal imaging method called pulsed thermography. NPL's expertise revealed an invisible problem with the coating of a power station gas turbine vane, which would have caused it to crack, and led to expensive downtime. Background Wood Group Gas Turbine Services, a company that provides industrial gas turbine repair and overhaul services, asked NPL to investigate a number of gas turbine vanes which had been coated by another vendor. The results of NPL's testing led to massive cost savings for Wood Group. Turbine blades are coated in batches, prior to being put into service. Two blades out of a coating batch of six had been fitted in an operational power station but had developed defe

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