Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)

Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is a magnetic method of nondestructive testing that is used to detect corrosion, pitting
and wall loss in steel structures.
Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is commonly used for inspecting tank floors in the
petrochemical industry. Corrosion of the tank floor can lead to the loss of product and
cause damage to the environment. Therefore, it is vital that tank floor inspections are
carried out in order to prevent the occurrence of such problems.
MFL provides a cost-effective and high-speed inspection of tank floors. Our qualified
MFL inspectors are backed by years of experience and have screened over 125 tank
floors. We use MFL equipment such as Floormap VS2i and Floormap 3D.
The method uses permanent or electromagnets to magnetise the tank floor and the
resulting magnetic field changes are recorded and analysed. If there is corrosion, pitting
or wall loss, the magnetic field leaks and the leakage is analysed to determine the
location and severity of the defect of the tank floor both near and far surface.
A map of the corroded areas is provided with the MFL method and this essential data
can be stored for future reference and planning.
Intertek is committed to ensuring our non-destructive testing inspections meet deadlines
as we appreciate the importance of maintenance/outage schedules for industries such
as petrochemical. By partnering with Intertek, you have the reassurance of our in-depth
expertise and the confidence that your maintenance/outage schedules will be met.

Magnetic Flux Leakage Testing (MFL)

Magnetic Flux Leakage testing (MFL) is a technique used for the inspection of tubes made of ferrous
materials. This technique will normally be applied as a fast screening technique if small diameter pitting is
expected. Because of limitations to its sizing abilities Magnetic Flux Leakage testing is not often used as a

stand-alone technique, and verification by other techniques is recommended. An advantage of MFL

Testing for inspections is that it can also be used on airfin cooler tubes.
Magnetic Flux Leakage is sensitive to sharp type defects like pits and grooving. Internal and external pits
can be detected. Depending on probe configuration MFL can distinguish between internal and external
defects and can detect gradual wall-loss. For ID/OD discrimination the probe needs to be equipped with a
second coil and to detect gradual defects and a Hall-effect sensor in the probe is needed.
The probe in the MFL Testing technique contains permanent magnets which are utilized to form a
magnetic flux field in the tube wall. Defects will influence the path of the magnetic field and will cause
some of the flux to leak out of the tube wall. This leakage field will be picked up by the coils and the Halleffect sensors in the probe. Size of the leakage field is determined by pull speed of the probe and by the
shape, the dimensions and the location of defects. Signals that represent the size of the leakage field and
thus the condition of the tube are presented on a computer screen.

Magnetic Flux Leakage Testing technique has the following advantages and disadvantages:

Sensitive to pits in carbon steel

Can be used on fin tubes

Sizing of defects is very limited

Very poor for detecting axial cracks

No single inspection technique is suitable for all tube inspection and Magnetic Flux leakage is no
exception. We would welcome your enquiry or questions so that we can help you to assess the best
method for your tube inspection requirements.