Modern Destructive And

Non-destructive Testing
Lecture 7
Inspection Process
Application of penetrant
Removal of excess penetrant
Condition for post-emulsifiers
Application of Developer
Application techniques
Choice of method is not concert provided it covers whole of surface.
1. Immersion
2. flow-on
3. electrostatic spray
4. Aerosol spray
5. conventional spray
6. brush-on
7. wipe-on
8. application as a fog.
Small placed in a suitable basket

parts Dipped into a tank of penetrant

Large brushing
parts spraying
Temperatures and Penetration Times
The temperature of the test part surface should be between 16C to
52C.
Penetration time is also called dwell time or residence time. The time
penetrant is allowed to stay onto surface before removing excess
amounts.
Removal of Excess penetrant
There are various methods for removal of excess penetrants for
following penetrants.
1. Water dispersible
2. Water-soluble penetrants
3. Solvent soluble penetrants
4. Post-emulsifiable penetrants
Water dispersible (water base)
It is water soluble in nature due to water base.
It is most simple and easy to remove penetrant.
Success is due to the ease of removal of residues, both surface and flaw
entrapped.
This residue will be primarily a water soluble surface active agent, a
detergent in itself.
Detergents aid in absorption of insoluble particles in water. Since residue is
itself water soluble so its self-acting and dont need external detergents.
When water-base cleaner includes an additive such as a volatile glycol
ether or light alcohol, it improves the residue removal further. This is due
to effect of lowering the residue's viscosity.
Post cleaning is even more simplified if the water-base penetrant is of the
self-developing fluorescent types.
 In addition to being water soluble, the residue of the water-base
penetrant, once its water content has evaporated, also readily
dissolves in chlorinated solvent cleaners such as perchloethylene.
Applications of water dispersible penetrants(water based thinners)
are in LOX related equipment inspections.
LOX is liquid oxygen containing apparatus mostly used in rocket
propulsion.
Post-cleaning is of great concern in LOX.
These penetrants with high water content doesn't alter mechanical
properties of LOX.
Water soluble Penetrants
Also called water-washable.
excess penetrants can be removed directly from the part with water
washing.
Used methods are manual, semi-automatic, automatic wide fan
shaped water spray or immersion equipment.
The temperature of water for effective cleaning should be within a
minimum of 60oF to 90oF.
Dwell time is to be maintained within ranges.
Residence time monitoring via black light for fluorescent type
penetrant.
Over-washing
Decision for immersion method
usage is critical.(coarse flaw
conditions)
The choice of spray times and
pressures.
The nozzle should not be
pointed directly (squarely)
Solvent Soluble Penetrants
Great care needed for use.
Volatile organic reagents are used that
are aggressive.
In manual method use wipes.(lint-free)
Flushing is prohibited following
penetrant application.
Post-emulsifiable penetrant
Needs emulsifier (water or oil based)
Not directly water washable.
Excess penetrant on the part is emulsified by dipping, flooding, or
spraying.
Application using brush is not allowed.
The length of the time that the emulsifier is allowed to remain on the
part and in contact with penetrant called the emulsification time;
dependent on type used and surface conditions
The average emulsification time should be about 30 seconds.
Conditions for Lipophilic emulsification
Usual application of lipophilic emulsifying agent is by immersion
followed by drainage. (always in undiluted form)
Spray application followed by drainage is also successful.
Brush application is forbidden.(cause loss of penetrant)
Flowing on is not recommended because of
contact time is very critical
Uniform application time must be ensured.
It is essential that complex-shaped components are rotated during the
drainage stage so that the various surfaces receive similar processing.
Contact time is 60 and 180 seconds depending on the actual emulsifying
agent, the penetrant in use and the surface state of the components.
Conditions for hydrophilic emulsification
Application of such emulsifier is by immersion in an aqueous solution.
The normal concentration is within the range 2.5 to 20% v/v.
Mechanical agitation rather than compressed air. Compressed air can
cause contamination and foaming.
Maximum contact times are given in specification as being
approximately 24 minutes.
Application of developer
Some applications require self-developing penetrants as in LOX.
But for higher sensitivity separate developers are required.
It functions to detect flaw by:
by aiding in the capillary bleed-out process (the developer acts as
a blotting agent),
by accentuating the presence of penetrant in a discontinuity.
By creating color contrast with background.
Accentuates as in to spread out penetrant over a greater area.
Available in dry and wet form.
Dry Developers
Dry developer are fluffy talcose powder with
high absorbent properties
These are applied to a specimen by dusting,
blowing, or dipping the specimen.
The application is usually accomplished in a
booth with a blower or fan arrangement that
removes loose powder from the atmosphere.
Ready made powders available.
Surface has to be absolutely dried with no
moisture prior to application.
 Non-aqueous wet developer
Non-aqueous wet developer is a suspension of
absorptive white powder in a solvent vehicle.
applied by spraying from a pressurized spray can
or other spraying device such as a paint spray
gun.
When used in bulk form, care must be exercised
to keep the powder thoroughly mixed in the
specimen without soaking the test surface.
It is the most sensitive of all the developers in
detecting fine discontinuities if mixed properly.
Water-based wet developers
Water-based wet developer may be either
suspension of absorptive white powder in water
water-soluble absorptive white powder mixed with water.
The suspension type requires mild agitation prior to and during use.
The water-soluble powder, once mixed with the water, remains
in solution.
while penetrant is still wet, wet developer is applied by either dip
(immersion), flow-on, or spray techniques.
Time saved by applying developer to specimen without drying, make
water-based wet developer well suited for use in rapid, production line
testing.
Avoid concentrations of developer in dished or hollowed areas of the
specimen; concentrations of developer mask penetrant indications and are
to be avoided.