Liquid penetrant inspection (LPI)

The following specimen in the image is taken as a reference with surface, near surface and subsurface defects. This is taken in order to determine the capability of LPI to detect the defects. Reference block :

Surface defects :

In this LPI, defects that are open to the surface are only identified by this method. The defects in the above figure can be detected by this method of LPI.

The above image gives the picture of the surface defects detected by using LPI method. It can be categorised as linear indications and round off indications. The depth of the crack cannot be estimated by this method. We can just identify by the volume of the penetrant coming out of the defect. (Cannot estimate in numbers) Near surface defects :

This defect cannot be identified by LPI inspection as there is no way for the penetrant to move to the defects.

Sub surface defects :

This defect cannot be identified by LPI inspection as there is no way for the penetrant to move to the defects.