Magnetic

Particle
Testing
Test Methods
 1. Surface Preparation
Physical Methods Chemical Methods
Capable of removing Chemical reactions to remove
contaminants on the surface
but not in the defects

Scale Oils and Greases

Slag
Corrosion
products
Carbon
 Pre-Cleaning
Contaminants:

Produce spurious
indications
 Chemical Methods
Hot Solvent Degreasing

Solvent

Components

Heating
Element
 Vapour Degreasing

Condensor
Components

ru
po
va
vapour

Solvent
Drip Tray Heating
Element

The most effective method for degreasing

 Steam Cleaning
For large objects
 Chemical Methods
Other methods
Cold solvent
Degreasing
Acid / Alkaline
Cleaning
Paint Removal

Ultrasonic
Cleaning
Ultrasonic Cleaning

Solvent/
water
Components

Ultrasonic
Crystal
 MPI Equipment
Portable Fixed
Permanent magnet
Current flow
Electromagnet
Magnetic flow
Prods
Rigid coil
Flexible coil
Induced current
Flexible cable

Clamps and leeches Mobile

Permanent Magnet
 Permanent Magnet
Longitudinal field between poles
(direct magnetisation): Flux flow
Area of inspection: a circle between the poles
 Permanent Magnet
Advantages Disadvantages
No power supply Direct field only

No electrical No control over

contact problems field strength
Inexpensive Poles attract

No damage to detecting media

test piece Tiring to use

Lightweight
Electromagnetic Yoke

A.C. ELECTROMAGNETIC
YOKE
 Electromagnets
Soft iron laminates within a coil.
 Magnetic Particle
Testing
Usage of electromagnetic yoke with black ink on weld
 Electromagnets
Advantages Disadvantages
AC, DC or rectified Power supply required

Controllable field Longitudinal field only

strength Carry mains supply

No harm to test Poles attract particles
piece Legs must have area
Can be used to contact
demagnetise
Easily removed
Prods
 Prods

Prods cables and contact

units
 Prods
Current passed between 2 contacts.
Defects detected parallel to contacts

Field

Current

Defects
Prods
 Prods
Current
7500 amps per metre of prod spacing
7.5 amps per mm of prod spacing
Circular field
 Prods
Current
4700 amps per metre of prod spacing
Elliptical field
 Prods
Current
3750 amps per metre of prod spacing
Narrow strip
 Prods
Advantages Disadvantages
AC, DC or rectified Arcing / damage to

Controllable field
work piece
Transformer required
strength
Current can be
No poles attract
switched on without
particles creating field
Control of
Good contact required
amperage 2 man operation
 Flexible Cable
Flexible, current carrying cable

Used as
Adjacent cable
Threading cable
Flexible coil
 Adjacent Cable
Defects located parallel to cable
I = 30 d
Return cable separated by 10d

d - diameter of cable
 Flexible Coil
I = 7.5(T + Y2 / 4T) for DC
I = 7.5(10 + Y2 / 40) for AC

Y
 Flexible Cable

Advantages Disadvantages
Simple to operate Difficult to keep

No danger of cables in place

High currents
burning
AC,DC or rectified required
Transformer
Current adjustable
required
 Fixed Equipment
Current flow
Magnetic flow
Coil
Threading bar
 Current Flow
Current passed through sample
7.5 amps / mm diameter
or
2.4 amps / mm perimeter
Defects

Current
Circular
Field
 Magnetic Flow
Magnetism passed through sample

Defects

Magnetism

Field strength assesses by flux indicator

Bench Unit
Rigid Coil
 Rigid Coil
Current passed through coil to generate a
longitudinal field
Defects

Magnetism

K
NI
L/D
 Rigid Coil
NI = K RC =
K
L/D
I = Current (ampere) L/D x
N = Number of turns in coil
N

RC = Current required for rigid coil

K = a constant
32,000 for DC
22,000 for AC or FWR
11,000 for HWR
L/D = Length / Diameter
 Rigid Coil Conditions
Cross section of
test piece <10% of
Coil
Test piece must lie
against side or
bottom
Only testing region
within coil
L / D must be
between 5 and 20
Treading Bar
 Threading Bar
Current passed through brass bar
placed between heads of bench unit
Circular field generated around bar
Sample hung from bar
 Threading Bar
R = I / 15 for General engineering
R = I / 56 for aerospace

Increase the amps and increase

R the test area

R
 Threading Bar
Component placed within field and rotated for
complete coverage
Swinging Field
Control and Maintenance
Checks
To ensure equipment,ancillaries and
materials are up to standard
Ink
Lighting conditions
Magnetising units
Viewing Conditions
VISIBLE METHOD
Day light or
artificial White
Light
ILLUMINATION:

Minimum 1000
LUX
 Viewing Conditions
FLUORESCENT PENETRANT
5 minutes minimum for Ambient
operators eyes become Background
dark-adapted Lighting
Maximum 20
lux
UV-A
IRRADIANCE
1000W / cm
Minimum
Or 1.0 mW/cm
Control and Maintenance
Checks
Ink settlement

Centrifuge Tube/ Settlement Flask

Crow Receiver
 Ink Settlement Test
Fluorescent Ink
0.1 - 0.3 % UK
Non-Fluorescent
Ink
0.1 - 0.7 % USA
1.25 - 3.5 %
UK
1.2 - 2.4 % USA
Control and Maintenance
Checks
Ink settlement
Fluorescent ink check
Equipment performance check
Equipment Performance
Checks
Current flow
test piece
Magnetic flow
test piece
Cracked
component
Control and Maintenance
Checks
Ink settlement
Fluorescent ink check
Equipment performance check
Viewing efficiency
Magnetising unit
Unit tank levels
Unit ammeters
Demagnetiser
UV Light
Control Check Frequency
Settlement test Daily
Fluorescent intensity Weekly
Test piece Daily
Viewing efficiency
Monthly
 Maintenance Check
Frequency
Magnetising units Weekly
Tank levels Daily
UV lamp Monthly
Ammeters 6 monthly
Demagnetiser 6 monthly