Non-destructive remaining life estimation method and system for ceramic member

Physical amounts of ceramic members varying by the growth of ceramic particles of the ceramic members or diffusion of external elements to ceramic members correspond to thermal hysteresis. Accordingly, life time of the ceramic members can be forecast by the measurement of the physical amounts of the ceramic members. If the ceramic members are colored, since the color changes by the growth of particles, the life time can be forecast. For example, in a case of a ceramic member made of ZrO2, the ceramic particles can be colored to yellow by the addition of any of V, In and Y + V. The grain size, electroconductivity, Young's modulus and porosity can be mentioned as the physical amount. With such procedures, the ceramics flame-coated as a heat resistant coating layer of a thermonuclear reactor can be investigated non-destructively thereby enabling to forecast the life time of the ceramic members. (I.N.)