Dakota NDT — T-104-0000 Dual-Element Transducer

1.0 MHz, 1/2 in Dual-Element Ultrasonic Transducer, Potted Side Entry — for HDPE, Fiberglass, and Difficult-to-Penetrate Materials
SKU: T-104-0000

Overview

The Dakota NDT T-104-0000 is a 1.0 MHz dual-element ultrasonic transducer designed for thickness measurement applications involving materials that are difficult to penetrate ultrasonically, including HDPE, fiberglass, thick sections, and other highly attenuative materials.

Its relatively low 1.0 MHz operating frequency provides greater acoustic penetration than higher-frequency probes, helping improve signal transmission through materials that absorb or scatter ultrasonic energy more strongly.

The transducer uses a 1/2 in dual-element configuration with separate transmitting and receiving elements. This design supports pulse-echo thickness measurement while improving performance on surfaces where corrosion, material structure, surface roughness, or acoustic attenuation can make conventional measurements more difficult.

A permanently potted side-entry cable provides a secure probe connection while routing the cable away from the top of the transducer for convenient positioning during field and industrial inspections.

What's Included

Note: Ultrasonic thickness gauge, couplant, calibration standards, adapters, and other accessories are not included unless specified separately.

Box Dimensions & Shipping Weight (Estimated)

Actual shipping dimensions and weight may vary depending on cable length and protective packaging.

Key Specifications

Performance Features

1.0 MHz Low-Frequency Operation
Provides increased ultrasonic penetration compared with higher-frequency transducers, making it particularly useful for materials that strongly attenuate or scatter sound.

Suitable for HDPE Inspection
The lower operating frequency supports thickness measurements on suitable high-density polyethylene components where higher-frequency probes may produce weak or unstable back-wall echoes.

Suitable for Fiberglass Applications
Can be used on compatible fiberglass and composite structures where material composition and internal structure make ultrasonic penetration challenging.

Dual-Element Construction
Separate transmit and receive elements support reliable pulse-echo measurements while improving near-surface response.

1/2 in Contact Size
Provides a stable contact area and useful acoustic energy for difficult inspection conditions.

Potted Side-Entry Cable
Provides a permanently secured probe connection with convenient cable routing for field and maintenance applications.

Why Use a 1.0 MHz Transducer?

Lower-frequency ultrasonic probes are often preferred when acoustic penetration is more important than extremely fine resolution.

Potential advantages include:

• Improved penetration through HDPE

• Better signal transmission through fiberglass

• Improved response on attenuative materials

• Greater penetration through thicker sections

• Improved performance on coarse or heterogeneous materials

• Better tolerance of rough or degraded surfaces

• Stronger back-wall echoes in difficult inspection conditions

• Useful performance where higher-frequency probes lose signal strength

The exact performance depends on material type, thickness, density, fiber orientation, surface condition, temperature, couplant, and instrument configuration.

Material Compatibility

The T-104-0000 may be suitable for thickness measurement of:

• HDPE

• Fiberglass

• Fiber-reinforced plastics

• Certain composite materials

• Thick carbon steel

• Stainless steel

• Cast metals

• Coarse-grained materials

• Corroded metallic components

• Attenuative industrial materials

• Other materials capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy

Because fiberglass and composite materials can vary considerably in construction, resin content, fiber orientation, and internal structure, calibration should be performed using a representative reference sample whenever possible.

User-Friendly Design

• Low frequency supports difficult inspection conditions

• 1/2 in contact area provides stable coupling

• Dual-element construction supports reliable thickness gauging

• Side-entry cable improves handling in suitable inspection areas

• Potted design provides a secure fixed connection

• Suitable for field and plant inspection programs

• Practical for spot measurements and repeated monitoring

• Can be integrated with compatible Dakota thickness gauges

Built for Difficult-to-Penetrate Materials

The T-104-0000 is particularly useful where conventional higher-frequency probes may struggle due to acoustic attenuation.

Typical challenges it can help address include:

• Thick HDPE components

• Fiberglass structures

• Materials with coarse internal structure

• Highly attenuative substrates

• Rough or corroded inspection surfaces

• Thick-wall industrial components

• Weak back-wall echoes

• High acoustic scattering

• Difficult coupling conditions

• Variable material structure

HDPE Inspection Considerations

When inspecting HDPE:

• Use a compatible ultrasonic gauge configured for plastic thickness measurement

• Calibrate the instrument using an HDPE reference of known thickness

• Enter the correct acoustic velocity for the specific HDPE material

• Use a couplant compatible with the plastic surface

• Maintain consistent probe pressure

• Avoid excessive pressure that may deform thin plastic components

• Repeat measurements to verify consistency

• Account for temperature effects on sound velocity when necessary

Different HDPE formulations and temperatures can produce different acoustic velocities, so calibration using the actual or representative material is recommended.

Fiberglass Inspection Considerations

Fiberglass and fiber-reinforced materials can be more difficult to inspect ultrasonically because their internal structure may scatter and attenuate sound.

For best results:

• Use a representative calibration sample whenever possible

• Select the correct material velocity

• Use sufficient instrument gain

• Apply consistent couplant

• Maintain stable probe orientation

• Take multiple measurements

• Evaluate signal quality before accepting a reading

• Be aware that fiber orientation can affect ultrasonic transmission

• Compare measurements against known reference areas when available

Not every fiberglass construction will produce a reliable back-wall echo, so application suitability should be verified before relying on the measurement.

Compatibility

Compatible with:

• Dakota ultrasonic thickness gauges supporting dual-element transducers

• Instruments capable of operating at 1.0 MHz

• Plastic thickness-gauging modes

• Corrosion thickness-gauging modes

• Pulse-echo ultrasonic measurement

• Appropriate ultrasonic couplants

• HDPE reference standards

• Fiberglass reference samples

• Metallic calibration blocks

• Field and laboratory ultrasonic inspection programs

Instrument model, connector configuration, cable termination, material type, thickness range, and measurement mode should be confirmed before ordering.

Ideal Applications

• HDPE thickness measurement

• Fiberglass thickness measurement

• Composite material inspection

• Thick-wall component measurement

• Corrosion monitoring

• Remaining-wall evaluation

• Plastic pipe inspection

• Chemical storage-tank inspection

• Process piping inspection

• Fiberglass tank inspection

• Marine composite inspection

• Industrial vessel inspection

• Erosion monitoring

• Preventive maintenance

• Asset-integrity programs

• Field ultrasonic testing

Typical Components Inspected

The T-104-0000 may be suitable for:

• HDPE piping

• Plastic process piping

• HDPE tanks

• Fiberglass tanks

• Fiberglass piping

• FRP vessels

• Composite panels

• Thick-wall piping

• Pressure vessels

• Storage tanks

• Castings

• Corroded steel components

• Industrial machinery

• Difficult-to-penetrate structural materials

Inspection Guidelines

• Verify that the ultrasonic gauge supports 1.0 MHz dual-element probes

• Clean the inspection surface

• Apply an appropriate ultrasonic couplant

• Calibrate using a reference standard of the same or similar material

• Enter or verify the correct material sound velocity

• Position the probe firmly against the surface

• Maintain consistent pressure and orientation

• Confirm that a stable back-wall echo is present

• Obtain multiple measurements for verification

• Recalibrate when changing materials or temperature conditions

• Record measurement location, material, thickness, and inspection conditions

Care and Handling

• Avoid dropping or striking the transducer

• Keep the probe face clean

• Remove couplant after inspection

• Inspect the contact surface for wear

• Check the potted cable transition regularly

• Do not pull or carry the probe by the cable

• Avoid sharp bends, pinching, or twisting of the cable

• Protect the probe from temperatures beyond its specified rating

• Store in a clean, dry location

• Replace the transducer if wear or damage affects measurement stability

About Dakota NDT

Dakota NDT develops ultrasonic thickness gauges, flaw detectors, transducers, cables, couplants, and related accessories for professional non-destructive testing. Its products support corrosion monitoring, plastic and composite inspection, fabrication, manufacturing, maintenance, asset integrity, and industrial quality-control applications.