Description:

Illustrations:


Penetrant Testing using fluorescent and visible dyes
Glossary of Terms of Liquid Penetrant Inspection
Background:
(fluorescent or colour contrast) residue of penetrant over general surface of part during inspection.
Background Colouration:
colouration remaining after incomplete removal of dye penetrant from the test surface.
Background Fluorescence:
fluorescence remaining after incomplete removal of dye penetrant from the test surface.
Bath:
refers to penetrant materials into which parts are dipped or totally immersed.
Black Light:
light radiating with a wavelength ranging between 360 to 400 nm. i.e. just below visible light and used to excite
fluorescence.
Black Light Filter:
a filter passing black light but opaque to visible and far ultraviolet wavelengths.
Bleedout:
the action of penetrant exuding from discontinuities on to the surface of a part.
Blotting:
the soaking action developer has on penetrant as it bleeds from a discontinuity, increasing sensitivity and
contrast.
Capillary Action:
the action by which the level of a liquid in contact with a solid surface is elevated or depressed to a level
different from the liquid not in contact with the solid's surface.
Clean:
free of solid or liquid contaminants.
Colour Contrast Dye:
dye used in penetrant to give sufficient colour intensity to allow good contrast to the background being viewed
under white light.
Colour Contrast Penetrant:
a penetrant utilizing colour contrast dye.
Dark Adaptation:
adjustment of the eyes when one goes from a bright area to a darkened area allowing better visibility in dim
light.
Degreasing Fluid:
agents used to clean oil and grease from a part prior to applying penetrant.
Developer:
a white powder applied to a part to draw excess penetrant from discontinuities after initial removal of penetrant
from part. Also, provides a contrasting background to view against.
Developer, Dry:
light, fluffy, dry absorbent powder.
Developer, Nonaqueous:
absorbent powdered materials suspended in a nonaqueous liquid.
Developer, Wet:
absorbent powdered materials suspended in water.
Development Time:
time a developer is allowed to remain on the surface of a part being inspected.
Dragout:
The loss of fluid as a result of carry-over.
Drain Time:
time allowed for excess penetrant to flow off part after it has been immersed in a bath.
Drying Time:
time in which a washed or wet-developed part is in the hot air drying oven.
Dwell Time (Penetration time):
time that a penetrant is in contact with a part's surface.
Dye Penetrant:
a penetrating fluid containing a dye which is visible under normal (white) light.
Emulsifier:
an agent that when added to an insoluble penetrant renders it soluble allowing the mixture to be washed off the
part.
Emulsion:
a stable mixture of water, oil and emulsifier.
Emulsification Time (soak time):
period which emulsifier is allowed to mix with the liquid penetrant prior to water rinsing.
Evaluation:
process of deciding on the severity of a discontinuity after it has been interpreted, and involves acceptance or
rejection of the part.
False Indications:
irrelevant indications. Family:
the complete series of materials of a specific manufacturer to perform a specific type or process of LPI.
Flash Point:
lowest temperature at which a substance will decompose to form a flammable gaseous mixture.
Fluorescence:
property of emitting light as a result of and only during absorption of radiation of a shorter wavelength.
Fluorescent Penetrants:
penetrants used to reveal surface discontinuities which become visible when irradiated with black light.
Hydrophilic:
refers to type of emulsifier that is water based.
Indication:
marks a discontinuity. In LPI it is the presence of bleed out.
Interpretation:
same as evaluation.
Irrelevant Indication:
indication resulting from poor technique and not associated with a material discontinuity.
Leak Testing:
LPI technique where penetrant is applied to one side of a part and observations are made from the other side to
locate any through-wall discontinuities.
Lipophilic:
refers to type of emulsifier that is oil based.
LOX-Safe Penetrant:
penetrant system designed to be compatible or nonreactive in the presence of liquid oxygen.
Monochromatic Light:
light of one wavelength.
Nonrelevant Indications:
LPI indications resulting from conditions not associated with a material discontinuity.
Penetrability:
the property of a penetrant that allows it to enter very fine openings.
Penetrant:
a liquid possessing properties enabling it to enter very fine openings such as cracks.
Polar Attraction:
electrostatic attraction between positive and negatively charged ions.
Reproducibility:
the reproducing of one or more LPI indications (primarily for statistical data).
Reference Pieces:
test pieces containing controlled artificial discontinuities or natural discontinuities, used for checking the
efficiency of the penetrant testing method and materials.
Seeability:
the ability of an indication to be seen by an observer under adverse conditions e.g. poor background contrast or
outside light (fluorescent method).
Soak Time:
same as emulsification time.
Solvent Cleaning:
process of removing excess penetrant from a surface by wiping or washing with a solvent.
Solvent Removable Penetrant:
a penetrant that must be removed by a suitable solvent.
Standard Cracked Test Panel:
an intentionally cracked test panel having separate areas for the application of different penetrant materials so a
direct comparison can be obtained.
Water Washable Penetrant:
a penetrant with suitable emulsifying agents incorporated to render it directly water washable.
Editor Note: Surface examination (such as with liquid penetrant examination - PT) is not performed for
damage mechanisms known to initiate from the inside surface as it would not be effective in these situations. A
disadvantage of dye penetrant testing is that cracks not open to the surface can not be detected.