Liquid penetrantion

test

Greated by:
Hawraa Ahmed Asmeel
Maysaa gineem jasim
 Introduce
Liquid penetrant testing: is one of the oldest and simplest
NDT methods where it is earliest versions (using
kerosene and oil mixture) dates back to the 19th century .
This method is used to reveal surface discontinuities
by bleed out of a colored or fluorescent dye from the
flaw. The technique is based on the ability of a liquid to
be drawn into a “clean” surface discontinuity by
action .after a period of time called the “dwell time”
excess surface penetrant is removed and a developer
applied. This acts as a blotter that draws the penetrant
from the discontinuity to reveal it is presence.
 How does PT work?
*In penetrant testing , a liquid with high
surface wetting characteristics is applied
to the surface of a component under test
*the penetrant “penetrates” into surface
breaking discontinuities via capillary
action and other mechanisms.
*excess penetrant is removed from the
surface and a developer is applied to pull
trapped penetrant back the surface.
*with good inspection technique ,visual
indication of any discontinuities present
become apparent.
Basic principle of liquid penetrant
1-if the angle is less than 90 the liquid is said to wet the
surface , or to have good wetting ability .
2-if the angle is equal to or greater than 90 , the wetting
ability is considered poor.
3- if the angle is greater than 90 , the liquid is depressed
in the tube and does not wet the tube wall, and the
meniscus is convex.
 What can be inspected via PT?
Almost any material that has a relatively smooth,
Non-porous surface on which discontinuities or defect
Are suspected.
 Penetrant types
Dye penetrant
The liquids are colored so that
–they provide good contrast
Against the developer.
-usually red liquid against white
developer .se
-observation performed in
ordinary daylight or good indoor
Illumination .
Fluorescent penetrants
-liquid contain additives
to give fluorescence under
UV.
-object should be
shielded from visible light
during inspection.
-fluorescent indications
are easy to see in the dark.
Before selection of type of penetrant method,
we must have a knowledge of

-surface condition of the work piece being

inspected.
-characteristics of the flaws to be detected .
-time and place of inspection.
-size of the work piece.
-sensitivity required.
-materials cost, number of the parts, size of area
requiring inspection .and portability.
 Emulsifiers
How does emulsifier work?
Emulsifiers reduce surface tension between the two
Immiscible phases due to their molecular structure
.they
Have both a polar group with an affinity for water
(hydrophilic), and a nonpolar group with an affinity for
oil (lipophilic)
-lipophilic tails are composed of c16 (palmitic) or longer
Fatty acids.
-polar head groups may consists of anionic, cationic,
Amphoteric, or nonionic functional groups.
 What is an emulsifier?
The hydrophobic part of the emulsifier may consist of a
fatty acid .the hydrophilic part of the emulsifier may
consist of glycerol, possibly esterified
An emulsifier is a molecule consisting of a hydrophilic
and a hydrophobic (lipophilic part).
With acetic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid or citric acid.
 Step of penetrant test
1-surface preparation : one of the most
critical steps of liquid penetrant testing is
the surface preparation
The surface must be free of oil, grease,
water, or other contaminants that may
prevent penetrant from entering
flaws.

2-penetrant application: once the surface

has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, the
penetrant material is applied by spraying,
brushing, or immersing the part in a
penetrant bath.
3-penetrant dwell: the penetrant is left on
the surface for a sufficient time to allow as
much penetrant as possible to be drawn
or to seep into a defect .the times vary
depending on:
Penetrant materials used, the form of the
material being inspected, and the type of
discontinuity being inspected for.
4-excess penetrant removal : this is the
most delicate step of the inspection
procedure because the excess penetrant
must be removed from the surface of the
sample while removing as little penetrant
as possible from defects

5-developer application : a thin layer of

developer is then applied to the sample to
draw penetrant trapped in flaws back to
the surface where it will be visible .the
developers come in a variety of forms that
may be applied by dusting, dipping, or
spraying,(wet developers).
6- indication development: the
developer is allowed to stand on the
part surface for period of time
sufficient to permit the extraction
the trapped penetrant out of any
surface flaws.
7-inspection:inspection is then
performed under appropriate
lighting to detect indications from
any flaws which may be present.
8-clean surface: the final step in the
process is to thoroughly clean the
part surface to remove the
developer from the parts that were
found to be acceptable.
 Common uses of liquid penetrant inspection
Liquid penetrant test can be used to inspect almost any
material provided that it is surface is not extremely rough or
porous .it include the following
*metals (aluminum, copper, steel, titanium,etc)
*glass
*Many ceramic material
*Rubber
*plastic
 Advantages
1-rapid inspection of large areas and volumes
2-suitable for parts with complex shapes
3-are produced directly on the surface of the part and a
visual representation of the flaw.
4-portable (materials are available in aerosol spray cans)
5-low cost (materials and associated equipment are
relatively inexpensive)
6-high sensitivity (small discontinuities can be
detected)
7-Few material limitations(metallic and nonmetallic,
magnetic and nonmagnetic, and conductive and
nonconductive can be inspected)
 Disadvantage
1-only surface breaking defects can be detected .
2-only materials with a relatively nonporous surface can be
inspected
3-pre-cleaning is critical since contaminants can mask
defects
4-metal smearing from machining , grinding , and grit or
vapor blasting must be removed
5-the inspector must have direct access to the surface being
inspected
6-surface finish and roughness can affect inspection
sensitivity
7-multiple process operations must be performed and
controlled
Application Type of developer used and
method of
Method of Application
Developer Form
Ranking Spray
Non aqueous , Wet
1 Spray
Solvent
2 Spray
Plastic Film
3 Spray
Water-Soluble
4 Immersion
Water- Suspendable
5 Immersion
Water-Soluble
6 Dust Cloud
Water - Suspendable
7 (Electrostatic)
Dry
8 Fluidized Bed
Dry
9 Dust Cloud (Air
Dry
10 Agitation)
Dry
Immersion (Dip)