LIQUID PENETERANT TESTING

LIQUID PENETERANT TESTING
PT

Liquid penetrant inspection is a nondestructive test method which does not harm the samples or parts being inspected. The test is very effective in detecting porosity, cracks, fractures, laps, seams and other flaws that are open to the surface of the test piece and may be caused by fatigue, impact, quenching, machining, grinding, forging, bursts, shrinkage or overload. As a result, it is often used on lots of machined parts, as well as weldments, manufactured products, castings, forgings and other items that will be placed into service. Liquid penetrant inspection can be used successfully on nonporous and fairly smooth materials such as metals, glass, plastics and fired ceramics.

This test is named for the liquid, called penetrant, that is applied to the sample during testing in order to make any surface flaws more visible.
A variety of penetrant materials are available and selection is often based on the required sensitivity level of the test, equipment available at the test site to conduct the test and other factors.

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