Radiographic Testing

Advantage

Permanent record

Good for non-planar defects ( porosity, slag inclusion, tungsten inclusion)

Little surface preparation

Defect identification

No material type limitation

Not so reliant upon operator skill

Temperature (ambient)

Direct image of imperfection

Good for Thin (section) materials

Gamma Sources
Isotope

Typical Thickness Range

Iridium 192

2 to 50 mm (mostly used)

Cobalt 60

> 50 mm

Ytterbium

< 10 mm

Thulium

< 10 mm

Cesium

< 10 mm

Disadvantage

Expensive consumables

Bulky equipment

Harmful radiation

Defect require significant depth in relation to the radiation beam (not good for planar
defects)

Slow results

Very little indication of depths

Access to both sides required

Ultrasonic Testing
Advantage

Rapid results

Both surface and sub-surface detection

Good for planar defects ( crack, lack of fusion, lack of penetration)

Good for Thick Section 8mm (Thickness dependent of equipment, probe used and
frequency)

Can use on complex joint

Safe

Capable of measuring the depth of defects

May be battery powered

Portable

Temperature range
0 degree (normal probe) up to 425 degree Celsius (Ref. Olympus Catalogue)
Shear Wave (Angle Probe) up to 480 degree Celsius (Ref. Olympus Catalogue)

Disadvantage

Trained and skilled operator required

Requires high operator skill

Good surface finish required

Defect identification

Couplant may contaminate

No permanent record

Calibration Required

Ferritic Material (Mostly)

Magnetic Particle Testing

Advantage

Can detect both surface and near sub-surface defects.

Can inspect parts with irregular shapes easily.

Pre-cleaning of components is not as critical as it is for some other inspection methods.

Most contaminants within a flaw will not hinder flaw detectability.

Fast method of inspection and indications are visible directly on the specimen surface.

Considered low cost compared to many other NDT methods.

Is a very portable inspection method especially when used with battery powered equipment

Temperature
Wet up to 57 degree Celsius maximum
Dry up to 316 degree Celsius maximum

Disadvantage

Cannot inspect non-ferrous materials such as aluminum, magnesium or most stainless

steels.

Inspection of large parts may require use of equipment with special power requirements.

Some parts may require removal of coating or plating to achieve desired inspection
sensitivity.

Limited subsurface discontinuity detection capabilities. Maximum depth sensitivity is

approximately 0.6 (under ideal conditions).

Post cleaning, and post demagnetization is often necessary.

Alignment between magnetic flux and defect is important

Liquid Penetrant Testing

Advantage

Simple to use

Inexpensive

Quick results

Can be used on any non-porous material

Portability

Low operator skill required

Temperature up to 5 to 52 degree Celsius

Disadvantage

Surface breaking defect only

little indication of depths

Penetrant may contaminate component

Surface preparation critical

Post cleaning required

Potentially hazardous chemicals

Temperature dependant