Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT)

PT is a NDT method of revealing discontinuities that are open to the

surfaces of solid and essentially nonporous materials based on
capillary action.

Capillary Action in Different Size Openings

(A) Capillary Rise (B) Capillary Depression

Capillary Action Is the ability of a narrow tube to draw a

liquid upwards against the force of gravity
Typical discontinuities detectable by PT

Cracks
Seams
Laps
Cold Shuts
Laminations
Lack of fusion
Porosity
Through leaks
 Solvent-Removable Visible Penetrant Test
Processing Steps

Cleaner
Solvent Wipe-Off

Cleaner Penetrant

Pre-clean and Dry Apply Penetrant Remove Excess

STEP 1 STEP 2 Penetrant
STEP 3

Visible
Light

Developer Cleaner
Apply Developer Inspect Post Clean
STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6
 Solvent-Removable Visible Penetrant Test
Processing Steps
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Solvent Wipe-Off

Pre-clean & Dry Apply Penetrant Remove Excess Penetrant

Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

Apply Developer Inspect Post-clean

 Solvent-Removable Fluorescent Penetrant Test
Processing Steps

UV-A Light

Cleaner
Solvent
Wipe-Off

Cleaner Penetrant

Pre-clean and Dry Apply Penetrant Remove Excess

STEP 1 STEP 2 Penetrant
STEP 3

UV-A Light

Developer Cleaner
Apply Developer Inspect Post Clean
STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6
 Solvent-Removable Fluorescent Penetrant Test
Processing Steps
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Solvent Wipe-Off

Pre-clean & Dry Apply Penetrant Remove Excess Penetrant

Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

Apply Developer Inspect Post-clean

 General Procedure Flowsheet
Solvent-Removable Penetrant

Preclean

Dry

Apply Penetrant
Apply Penetrant

Solvent Wipe-Off

Dry Apply Aqueous Developer

Apply Nonaqueous Developer Dry

Inspect

Post-Clean
Leak-Through Technique
 Liquid Penetrant System
Penetrant
Emulsifier Remover Developer
Fluorescent Visible

Water-Washable Water-Washable Built-in Emulsifier Water

Lipophilic Dry Powder

Water
(Oil Base) Aqueous
Post-Emulsifiable ----
Hydrophilic Nonaqueous wet
Water Liquid Film
(Water Base)

Solvent-Removable Solvent-Removable ---- Solvent

 Classification of Penetrant Examination
Types and Method

ASTM E165

Type I - Fluorescent Penetrant Examination

Method A - Water-Washable
Method B - Post-Emulsifiable, Lipophilic
Method C - Solvent-Removable
Method D - Post Emulsifiable, Hydrophilic

Type II - Visible Penetrant Examination

Method A - Water-Washable
Method C - Solvent-Removable

Visible vs. Fluorescent Penetrant

Visible penetrant contains visible color (usually red dye).
Fluorescent has fluorescent dye and gives off bright yellow-green light.

Visible requires visible or white light.

Fluorescent requires long wave length ultraviolet light (UV-A) called
Black light.

Relatively, fluorescent is more sensitive compare to visible.

 Functions of Developer

Blotter to absorb penetrant that has been trapped in discontinuities.

Contrasting Background to enhance the visibility of penetrant indications.

Types of Developer
Dry Powder - a fine free-flowing powder used as supplied

Aqueous - a suspension of developer particles in water.

Nonaqueous wet - developer particles suspended in a nonaqueous

vehicle prior to application.
Liquid Film - a suspension of developer particles in a vehicle which
leaves a resin/ polymer film on the test surface after drying.
 ASME V, Article 6 Requirements

Liquid penetrant examination shall be performed in accordance

with a written procedure which shall contain minimum requirements
listed in Table T-621.
When any of the essential variable is changed, a written procedure
needs to be requalified.
Contaminants of Liquid Penetrant Materials shall be checked when
applied to nickel base alloys, austenitic stainless steels and titanium.
Requirements of Liquid Penetrant Examination Procedure
ASME V, Article 6
Control of Contaminants for Liquid Penetrant Examination

Nickel Base Alloy Sulphur shall not exceed 1% of the

residue by weight.

Austenitic Stainless Chlorine plus Fluorine shall not exceed

Steel and Titanium 1% by weight.
 Precleaning (Surface Preparation)

Grinding, machining or other methods may be performed

where surface irregularities could mask indication.
Clean surface to be examined and all adjacent area within
at least 25 mm.
Surface shall be dry and free of all dirt, grease, lint, scale,
welding flux, weld spatters, paint, oil and other extraneous
matter.

Typical cleaning agents:

Detergents
Organic solvents
Descaling solutions
Paint removers
Degreasing
Ultrasonic cleaning
Surface Preparation
Clean examination area and all adjacent areas within at least 25 mm.

Exam Area

25 mm

Clean area & dry

25 mm

Exam area Cleaning

area & dry
 Drying after Preparation

Normal Evaporation
Forced Hot or Cold Air

NOTE:
Establish minimum period of drying time to ensure
complete evaporation of cleaning solution.

Techniques to Standards Temperature

The temperature of penetrant and the surface of the part shall be 5C - 52C
 Qualification Technique for Examinations
Nonstandard Temperature

(39mm)
1 in.
Scribe line

3 in (76mm)

(39mm)
1 in.
Temperature less than 5C
2 in (50mm) 3/8 in
Temperature greater than 52C (10mm)

FIG. III-630 LIQUID PENETRANT COMPARATOR

(NOTE: Dimensions given are for guidance only and are
not critical.)
 Penetrant Application

Dipping
Brushing
Spraying

Penetrant Dwell Time

see T-672

Excess Penetrant Removal

Care should be taken to minimize removal of penetrant from discontinuities.

Table-672 Minimum Dwell Times
ASME V, Article 6
Removal of Excess Solvent Removable Penetrant

1. Wipe using dry cloth or absorbent paper

2. Wipe using damped cloth or paper with solvent
3. Wipe using dry cloth, absorbent paper

Note: Flushing of solvent during removal of excess

penetrant is prohibited.

Drying after excess Penetrant removal

Normal Evaporation
Blotting
Wiping
Forced air
 Techniques Restrictions

Fluorescent penetrant examination shall not follow a visible

penetrant examination.

Intermixing of penetrant materials from different families or

different manufacturers is not permitted.

A retest with water-washable penetrants may cause loss of

marginal indications due to contaminants.
 Developing

Apply developer as soon as possible after penetrant

removal
The time interval shall not exceed that established in
the procedure.
Insufficient coating thickness may not draw the
penetrant out of discontinuities
Excessive coating thickness may mask indications
Visible Penetrant - use only wet developers
Fluorescent Penetrant - wet or dry developer
may be used
 Application of Developer

DRY Nonaqueous

Soft Brush Spraying

Hand powder bulb Brushing for restricted and
safety prohibits application by
Powder gun
spraying.

NOTE: Ensure dry powder is dusted evenly over the

entire surface
Developing time begins immediately after the
application of a dry developer or as soon as a wet
developer coating has dried up.
 Light Intensity Minimum
Minimum light Intensity on
Surface of Part being examined:

VISIBLE LIGHT - 100 fc (1000 lux)

BLACK LIGHT - 1,000 W/cm2

NOTE: Black light intensity verification

Every 8 hours
Whenever work station is changed
Whenever the bulb is changed

Calibration
Visible light meters
Fluorescent light meters

At least once a year or whenever the meter has

been repaired.
 Interpretation

Interpretation shall be made within 10 to 60 minutes

For large surfaces, examine by increments
Observe formation of indication immediately after
application of developer to characterize and
determine the extent of the indication.
Interpretation of Visible Penetrant Indication

Indication is deep red color that stains the developer

Indications with a light pink color may indicate
excessive cleaning
Inadequate cleaning may leave an excessive
background making interpretation difficult.

Interpretation of Fluorescent Penetrant Indication

Indication is bright yellow green.
Shall be performed in a darkened area.
Eye adaptation to darkened area 5 minutes (minimum)
Warm-up time 5 minutes (minimum) Black light
Typical False Indications
 Interpretations of Indications
Length
Length
Width Width

Linear Indications Rounded Indications

Note: D Discontinuities
L - Length of D
W Width of D
Linear D: L > 3W
Rounded D: L< 3W or L = 3W

3 L ? 3W
1

3 = 3x1
Rounded D

5 L ? 3W
1.5

5 > 3 x 1.5
Linear D
 Evaluation
All Indications shall be evaluated in terms of the acceptance
standards of the referencing code section.

Recording of Indications
Nonrejectable Indications
- shall be recorded as specified by the referencing code section.

Rejectable Indications
- shall be recorded indication whether linear or rounded, location,
extent (length), diameter, aligned.

Post - cleaning
Shall be performed as soon as practical using:
Solvent Cleaning
Vapor Degreasing
Ultrasonic Cleaning
 Examination Records
For each examination, the following information shall be recorded:
procedure identification and revision
liquid penetrant type (visible or flourescent);
type (number or letter designation ) of each penetrant,
penetrant remover, emulsifier, and developer used;
examination personnel identity and if required by referencing
Code Section, qualification level;
map or record of indication
material and thickness;
lighting equipment; and
date of examinations.