Non-destructive testing gains strength thanks to TMR

TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) sensors promise greater sensitivity to probe for hidden defects and higher spatial resolution to pick up even the most minute defects. The technology is a product of the EU-backed project Imagic, in which Leti participated. The sensors will end up in in Eddy current NDT equipment used to inspect metal parts.

The sensor is made up of a network of 576 magnetic tunnel junctions (50 µm x 50 µm), each made of a stack of fifteen-or-so magnetic thin layers. The processes developed to make the sensors leverages some of the same fabrication methods used in MRAM production. The sensors’ extreme sensitivity could position them as a promising technology for various applications, such as in the automotive industry, where they could compete with giant magnetoresistance technology.

Contact: bertrand.delaet@cea.fr

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