WIRE PENETRAMETER: ( G.

Kolder )

DIN TYPE:

The German- and the International welding institute have proposed a series of wire in
varying thickness of plates with different steps in them, for image quality indicators. The
wires are made of aluminum or steel or of object under inspection. The DIN(German design
– ( The Deutsche Industrie Norm ) are graded in geometrical progression with designation
from 1-16. the first number wire having diameter 3.2 mm and the sixteenth wire having 0.10
mm. Each wire is about 5 cm long. A set of 7 wires 5 mm apart, is sealed

WIRE DIAMETER ( mm )

Set 1-ISO-7 Set 6-ISO-12 Set 10-ISO-16

3.2 1.0 0.40

2-5 0.8 0.32 DIN 62 FE

2.0 0.63 0.25

1.6 0.50 0.20

1.25 0.40 0.16

1.0 0.32 0.13

10 ISO 16
0.80 0.25 0.10

DIN = Deutsche Industrie Norm ( German Industrial Norm )

62 = 1962 Year of invention of penetrameters

FE = Ferrous Steel & Ferrous Alloys

DIN WIRE TYPE Thickness Range

1 ISO 7 > 50 mm

6 ISO 12 > 19 mm < 50 mm

10 ISO 16 < 19 mm

Example: A 32 mm Stainless Steel vessel has been radiographed. The thinnest visible IQI wire
indication on the radiograph is 0,4. This means, the minimum visible size of an imperfection
or discontinuity on the radiograph is 0,4mm. Smaller imperfections or discontinuities are not
visible on the radiograph.
ASTM TYPE:

This design as shown in figure on next page, consists of 4 sets of wires having diameters
from 0.0032 mm to 0.32 mm. Each set has 6 wires, with last wire of the previous set being
repeated as the first wire of the next set. The penetrameter design is characterized by its
simplicity, ease of application and independence to beam orientation. The design accounts
for, to some extent, to some extent, definition or unsharpness and contrast factors,
particularly related to linear volume elements. Here again, as in other designs of
penetrameter, unsharpness factors are not independently evaluated. Besides, there is no
defined relationship that exists between the sensitivity levels obtained by wire types and
step type or plate type penetrameter.

WIRE DIAMETER ( inch )

Set A Set B Set C Set D

0.0032 0.010 0.032 0.100

ASTM
0.004 0.013 0.040 0.123

0.005 0.016 0.050 0.160

0.0063 0.020 0.063 0.200

0.008 0.025 0.080 0.250

01 A
0.010 0.032 0.100 0.320

Material Grade Set indication

Number Letter

Material Groups: 05 = Tin, Tin-Bronze including Gun metal & valve Bronze

04 = Nickel Copper

03 = Nickel Chromium Iron Alloy

02 = Aluminum Bronze & Nickel

01 = Steel
INDIAN STANDARDS INSTITUTION ( IS 3657-1966 ):

The Indian Standards Institution has recommended design of both wire type and hole-step
type penetrameters. There design have not become popular for obvious reasons. Industry
has not come forward to make penetrameters as per the ISI design, Besides, other designs of
penetrameters are readily available in lndia and do not differ materially from lndian
Standards.

WIRE DIAMETER (mm)

Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Range for RT ( mm )

Fe 1 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.125 0.16 0.2 0.25 0-12

Fe 2 0.125 0.16 0.20 0.25 0.32 0.40 0.50 12-25
Fe 3 0.25 0.32 0.40 0.50 0.64 0.80 1.0 25-50
Fe 4 0.50 0.64 0.80 1.0 1.2 1.6 2.0 50-100
Fe 5 0.80 1.0 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.5 3.15 over-100