NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING

AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

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REF DOC.
ATS-PT-001

COMPANY NAME
OPERATING PROCEDURE
LIQUID PENETRANT EXAMINATION

PREPARED BY

APPROVED

Name:

Name: J. AFFANDI

Signature:

Signature:

Date :

Date :

REVISION STATUS:
S.NO

REVISION No.

00

DATE

DESCRIPTION
FIRST ISSUE

ALL STANDARD PRACTICE INSTRUCTIONS/OPERATING PROCEDURES CONTAINED

IN THE COMPANY QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM ARE CONTROLLED BY THE
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER AND MAY NOT BE IN ANY WAY REVISED OR
AMENDED WITHOUT HIS AUTHORITY.
The signatures above indicate Review and Authorization of all the numbered pages in this Standard
Document.

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NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

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ATS-PT-001

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CONTENTS
1.0

SCOPE

2.0

REFERENCE DOCUMENT

3.0

QUALIFICATIONS

4.0

RESPONSIBILITY

5.0

TESTING MEDIA

6.0

INSPECTION PROCEDURE

7.0

REPORTING

8.0

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

9.0

DOCUMENTS

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NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

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ATS-PT-001

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ABBREVIATION:
ASME - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
ASTM - AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING MATERIALS
PT

- PENETRANT TESTING

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SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

1.0

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ATS-PT-001

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SCOPE

This procedure specifies the examination of non-porous and metallic material using visible
solvent removable liquid penetrant testing method to detect the discontinuities, which are open to
the surface.
2.0

3.0

REFERENCE DOCUMENT
2.1

ASME Section V Article-1, 6 & 24 (2007 Edition)

2.2

ASME / ANSI B31.1 (2008 Edition) & B31.3 (2008 Edition)

2.3

ASTM E165 (2002 edition) Standard Recommended practice for PT

2.4

AWS D1.1 (2008 Edition)

2.5

API 1104 (2005 Edition)

QUALIFICATION
3.1
3.2

4.0

RESPONSIBILITY
4.1

5.0

The person who performs PT shall be qualified to level-II as per ASNT SNT-TC1A in PT.
Alternatively a level I qualification is acceptable provided the work is done under
the supervision of a level II.

NDT Technician shall be responsible for performing Penetrant Testing according

to this procedure.

TESTING MEDIA
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

Only approved penetrant testing system consisting cleaner/remover, penetrant and

developer shall be used.
Colour contrast method utilizing solvent removable penetrant and non-aqueous
wet developer shall be used to carry out inspection.
The Penetrant system shall be of a manufacturers standard type from recognized
manufacturers include Magnaflux, Ardrox Brent Chemicals etc.
Control of Contamination:
Certification of contaminant content for all liquid penetrant materials used on
nickel base alloys, austenitic stainless steels, and titanium shall obtain from
manufacturers with manufacturers name, batch numbers and test results in
accordance with (a) and (b) below.

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NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

6.0

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ATS-PT-001

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(a) When examining nickel base alloys, all materials shall be analyzed
individually for sulfur content. The sulphur content shall not exceed 1% of the
residue by weight.
(b)
When examining austenitic stainless steel or titanium, all materials shall
be analyzed individually for chlorine and fluorine content. The total chlorine plus
fluorine content shall not exceed 1% by weight.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE
6.1

SURFACE PREPARATION
6.1.1 The surface to be examined shall be free from rust, scale weld spatter, dirt,
scale, paint, oil, grease or any other impurity, which might mask the
discontinuities.
6.1.2 Power grinding, shot and grit blasting shall not be used for cleaning the
surface.
6.1.3 Welded surface after removing oxides and flux shall be considered
suitable for liquid penetrant testing provided the surface condition does
not create difficulties in the examination or interpretation of the results.
6.1.4 Where machining or heat treatment is involved, Penetrant Testing shall be
performed after final machining and heat treatment, unless otherwise
specified by design or specification.
6.1.5 The test surface and adjacent area within one inch of the area being
examined shall be cleaned using cleaner/remover and thoroughly wiped
using clean cloth. After wiping any residual solvent shall be allowed to
evaporate.
6.1.6 The surface temperature of the material to be examined and the penetrant
shall be in the range of 10 to 52 Celsius.

6.2

PENETRANT APPLICATION
6.2.1 By thoroughly and uniformly spraying on the part to be examined.
Penetration time: The minimum penetration time shall be as recommended
table T-672 in ASME Sec V , Article 6 or as qualified by demonstration for
specific application
Temperature of surface: 10-52C.

6.3

REMOVAL OF EXCESS PENETRANT

6.3.1 Excess penetrant shall be removed by first wiping the surface thoroughly
with a clean lint-free clothes after completion of dwell time. Whilst wiping
care should be taken to avoid back and forth movement. Because wiping
back and forth will cause reapplication of some penetrant removed by the
earlier movement.

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NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

6.3.2
6.3.3
6.3.4

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Removing will be perform by special solvent and clean clothes.

(Magnaflux- SKC-S or equivalent.) Solvent shall not be spray directly to
the weld.
Flushing the surface with solvent following the application of the
penetrant and prior to developing is prohibited.
Drying of the test area surface shall be done by normal evaporation and
drying time shall not be more than 5 minutes.

6.4

APPLICATION OF DEVELOPER
6.4.1 Prior to application, the developer suspension shall be thoroughly shaken
to ensure adequate dispersion of suspended particles.
6.4.2 The developer shall be as soon as possible after penetrant removal and
uniformly applied in a thin coating to the test surface by spraying.
6.4.3 The test surface shall be kept dry during the development process.
6.4.4 The development time shall not be less than seven (7) minutes, and no
longer than thirty (30) minutes after developer has been applied.
6.4.5 If the surface area to be examined is large, then a stage-by-stage
examination shall be carried out.

6.5

INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

6.5.1 Final interpretation should be made within 10 t0 60 minutes after the
development time
6.5.2 Adequate illumination is required, either natural daylight or artificial white
light for the proper evaluation of penetrant indications.
6.5.3 Observation of the test surface whilst applying the developer will assist as
an aid to the evaluation of the test item.
6.5.4 Bleeding out of the dye penetrant will indicate mechanical discontinuities
on the surface.
6.5.5 Machining marks or surface conditions may also produce similar
indications, which may not be relevant. Any indications that are believed
to be non-relevant shall be re-examined after surface conditioning to
verify the presence of discontinuities.
6.5.6 Relevant indications are those that result from mechanical discontinuities.
Linear indications are those in which the length is more than three times
the width. Rounded indications are circular or elliptical with length less
than three times the width.

6.6

POST CLEANING
6.6.1 Post cleaning is necessary in cases where residual penetrant or developer
could interfere with subsequent processing or with service requirements.
6.6.2 After evaluation of L.P. examination the remaining material is to be
removed by proper solvent or water and clean clothes.

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NDE PROCEDURE -GENERAL

SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING
AMIGOS TECHNICAL SERVICES (S) PTE LTD

7.0

REF DOC.
ATS-PT-001

DATE
REVISION 0.0

REPORTING
7.1

8.0

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All test results shall be recorded and reported in the Liquid Penetrant Test Report.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
8.1

The acceptance criteria will be dependent upon the clients requirements.

However, unless otherwise specified the minimum acceptance criteria shall be in
accordance with latest edition of the following:
8.1.1

ASME Section-VIII Div.1 & 2 (2007 edition)

for Pressure Vessels

9.0

8.1.2

ASME / ANSI B31.1 (2008 Edition) for Power Piping

8.1.3

ASME / ANSI B31.3 (2008 Edition) for Process Piping.

8.1.4

AWS D1.1 (2008 Edition)

8.1.5

API 1104 (2005 Edition)

8.1.6

BS EN: 1289

DOCUMENTS
9.1 Liquid Penetrant Test Report format.
9.2 Liquid Penetrant Test Repair sketch

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SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING

REVISION
9.1 REPORT FORMAT
LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING REPORT
Page 1 of

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SUBJECT: LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING

REVISION

9.2 Liquid Penetrant Test Repair Sketch

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