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Introduction to
Magnetic Particle
History of Magnetic Particle Inspection Inspection

Magnetism is the ability of matter to attract other matter to itself. The Introduction
ancient Greeks were the first to discover this phenomenon in a mineral Introduction
they named magnetite. Later on Bergmann, Becquerel, and Faraday Basic Principles
discovered that all matter including liquids and gasses were affected by History of MPI
magnetism, but only a few responded to a noticeable extent.
Physics
The earliest known use of magnetism to inspect an object took place as Magnetism
early as 1868. Cannon barrels were checked for defects by magnetizing Magnetic Mat'ls
the barrel then sliding a magnetic compass along the barrel's length. Magnetic Domains
These early inspectors were able to locate flaws in the barrels by Magnetic Fields
monitoring the needle of the compass. This was a form of nondestructive Electromag. Fields
testing but the term was not commonly used until some time after World Field From a Coil
War I. Mag Properties
Hysteresis Loop
In the early 1920s, William Hoke Permeability
realized that magnetic particles Field Orientation
(colored metal shavings) could Magnetization of
be used with magnetism as a Mat'ls
means of locating defects. Hoke Magnetizing Current
discovered that a surface or Longitudinal Mag
subsurface flaw in a magnetized Fields
material caused the magnetic Circular Mag Fields
field to distort and extend Demagnetization
beyond the part. This discovery Measuring Mag
was brought to his attention in Fields
the machine shop. He noticed
that the metallic grindings from Equipment &
hard steel parts (held by a Materials
magnetic chuck while being Portable Equipment
ground) formed patterns on the Stationary
face of the parts which corresponded to the cracks in the surface. Equipment
Applying a fine ferromagnetic powder to the parts caused a build up of Multidirectional
powder over flaws and formed a visible indication. The image shows a Equipment
1928 Electyro-Magnetic Steel Testing Device (MPI) made by the Lights
Equipment and Engineering Company Ltd. (ECO) of Strand, England. Field Strength
Indicators
In the early 1930s, magnetic particle inspection was quickly replacing the Magnetic Particles
oil-and-whiting method (an early form of the liquid penetrant inspection) as Suspension Liquids
the method of choice by the railroad industry to inspect steam engine
boilers, wheels, axles, and tracks. Today, the MPI inspection method is Testing Practices
used extensively to check for flaws in a large variety of manufactured Dry Particles
materials and components. MPI is used to check materials such as steel Wet Suspension
bar stock for seams and other flaws prior to investing machining time Magnetic Rubber
during the manufacturing of a component. Critical automotive components Continuous &

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History of MPI https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/MagPa...

are inspected for flaws after fabrication to ensure that defective parts are Residual Mag
not placed into service. MPI is used to inspect some highly loaded Field Direction &
components that have been in-service for a period of time. For example, Intensity
many components of high performance racecars are inspected whenever L/D Ratio
the engine, drive train or another system undergoes an overhaul. MPI is
also used to evaluate the integrity of structural welds on bridges, storage Process Control
tanks, and other safety critical structures. Particle
Concentration
Suspension
Contamination
Electrical System
Lighting
Eye Considerations

Example
Indications
Visible Dry Powder
Fluorescent Wet

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Partial support for this work was provided by the NSF-ATE (Advanced Technological
Education) program through grant #DUE 0101709. Opinions expressed are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.

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