Liquid Penetrant Inspection - NDT Validation Centre

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Liquid Penetrant Inspection

Ultrasonic Techniques

What is it?

Eddy Currents

Liquid (or dye) penetrant inspection is an extension of visual inspection and

is used for detecting surface-breaking flaws, such as cracks, laps and folds,
on any non-absorbent material's surface.

Laser Shearography
ACFM
Thermography

How does it work?

Optical Inspection

The basic stages of liquid penetrant inspection are shown below. Firstly, the
surface to be inspected is cleaned thoroughly to remove all traces of dirt and
grease. A brightly coloured or fluorescent liquid is then applied liberally to
the component surface and allowed to penetrate any surface-breaking
cracks or cavities. The time the liquid is allowed to soak into the material's
surface is normally about 20 minutes. After soaking, the excess liquid
penetrant is wiped from the surface and a developer applied. The developer
is usually a dry white powder, which draws penetrant out of any cracks by
reverse capillary action to produce indications on the surface. These
(coloured) indications are broader than the actual flaw and are therefore
more easily visible.

Optical Imaging and Digital

Imaging Processing
Magnetic Partical Inspection
Dye Penetrant Inspection

Penetrant testing:
A. Sample before testing;
B. Liquid penetrant applied;
C. Surplus wiped off leaving penetrant in crack;
D. Developer powder applied, dye soaks into powder;
E. View coloured indications, or UV lamp shows up fluorescent
indications.

A number of different liquid penetrant systems are used in industry.

Fluorescent penetrants are normally used when the maximum flaw
sensitivity is required. However, these penetrants must be viewed under
darkened conditions with a UV lamp, which may not be practical. The most
commonly used systems are solvent removable, or water washable, red dye
systems, which typically comprise three aerosol cans - cleaning fluid,

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penetrant and developer. These systems are often used to check weld
quality during fabrication.
Important considerations
Despite being one of the popular NDT methods, liquid penetrant testing is
often misused. Test surfaces are not cleaned adequately, the contact time
between the penetrant and the test surface is too short, or the excess
penetrant is removed carelessly (i.e. from flaws as well as from the test
surface). For these reasons, it is important that personnel carrying out liquid
penetrant inspection are properly trained and qualified (for example, in
accordance with the British Institute of Non Destructive Testing's PCN
certification scheme or equivalent schemes such as those operated by
CSWIP and ASNT).
Where is it used?
If applied correctly, liquid penetrant testing offers a fast, cheap and
relatively simple means of surface inspection, making it attractive to a
number of industries. At the 'high-tech' end of the market, the aerospace
industry use automated fluorescent penetrant testing to look for fatigue
cracking in turbine blades. At the other end of the scale, the construction
industry uses dye penetrant testing as a quick and simple method for
checking that welds and other susceptible areas are free from surfacebreaking flaws.

Copyright 2012, TWI Ltd

Information and advice are provided in good faith. No warranty expressed or implied is given regarding the results or effects of applying information or
advice from the website, nor is any responsibility accepted for any consequential loss or damage. Accessibility statement.

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