UNIT I - NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING:

AN INTRODUCTION, VISUAL
INSPECTION & LIQUID PENETRANT
TESTING
1.3 Introduction to Liquid penetrant
testing
 Session Meta Data

Author Dr. K. Jayakumar

Reviewer

Version Number 1.3

Release Date 27-02-2020

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 Revision History

Revision Date Details Version

no.
12 April 2018 Introduction to Liquid penetrant testing 1.2

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 Session Objectives
– Understanding about liquid penetrant testing (K2:U)

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 Session Outcomes
• At the end of this session, participants will be able to

– Explain about liquid penetration testing (K2:U)

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 Agenda

•Basic principles of liquid penetration testing

•Different methods of liquid penetration testing
•Applications of liquid penetration testing

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 Liquid penetrant testing
Introduction:

•Liquid penetrant testing – Oldest and simplest method

•Reveal surface discontinuities by coloured dye
•Applied to both ferrous and non-ferrous metals
•used to detect defects in casting, forging and welding surface

•The following defects can be identified:

hairline cracks
surface porosity
leaks in new products
fatigue cracks on in-service components

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 Liquid penetrant testing-Principle
•LPT - based upon capillary action, low surface tension fluid penetrates
into clean and dry surface-breaking discontinuities.

•Ways of applying penetrant - dipping, spraying, or brushing.

•Penetration time is allowed - excess penetrant is removed - developer is

applied. Developer draw penetrant out of the

•LPT is performed under - ultraviolet or white light - depends on the type

of dye used

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 Steps in LPT
• Pre-cleaning
• Application of Penetrant
• Excess Penetrant Removal
• Application of Developer
• Inspection
• Post cleaning

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 Characteristics of penetrant
• Should spread easily over the surface
• Surface defects can be identified by capillary action
• Easily removed from the surface but remain in defect
• Highly visible
• Non-harmful to the surface and isnpector

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 Penetrant types
• Water washable
• Solvent removable
• Post emulsifiable (Lipophilic)- Lipophilicity refers to the
ability of a chemical compound to dissolve in fats, oils,
lipids, and non-polar solvents such as hexane or toluene.
• Post emulsifiable (Hydrophilic)- A hydrophilic substance
tends to dissolve in or mix with water.

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 Developer types
• Dry powder
• Water soluble
• Water suspendable
• Non-aqueous
• Special applications

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 LPT Methods – Water washable penetrant

Reference: Baldev Raj, Jeyakumar,T., Thavasimuthu,M., “Practical Non

Destructive Testing” Narosa publishing house, New Delhi, 2002

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 LPT Methods – Post emulsifiable penetrant
method

Reference: Baldev Raj, Jeyakumar,T., Thavasimuthu,M., “Practical Non

Destructive Testing” Narosa publishing house, New Delhi, 2002

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 Emulsifiers are additives that help
two liquids mix. For
example, water and oil separate in a glass, but
adding an emulsifier will help the liquids mix
together.

It is commonly used for different foods and

drinks. Some examples of emulsifiers are egg
yolks and mustard.

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 LPT Methods – Solvent removable
penetrant method

Reference: Baldev Raj, Jeyakumar,T., Thavasimuthu,M., “Practical Non

Destructive Testing” Narosa publishing house, New Delhi, 2002

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 A solvent is a substance that
dissolves a solute, resulting in
a solution. A solvent is usually
a liquid but can also be a solid,
a gas, or a supercritical fluid.

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 Applications – LPT
• Discontinuities open to the surface (Pressure vessels,
pipes, weldment)
• To identify fatigue cracks

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 Summary
• LPT - Introduction
• Need for LPT
• Various methods of LPT
• Applications of LPT

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 Test your understanding
1. What is the need for LPT?
2. Write the procedure for LPT.
3. Explain the various methods of LPT.
4. Describe different types of penetrant and developer.
5. Enumerate the applications of Visual inspection.

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 References
• 1. Baldev Raj, Jeyakumar,T., Thavasimuthu,M., “Practical Non Destructive Testing” Narosa
publishing house, New Delhi, 2002
• 2. Krautkramer. J., “Ultra Sonic Testing of Materials”, 1st Edition, Springer – Verlag Publication,
New York, 1996.
• 3. Peter J. Shull “Non Destructive Evaluation: Theory, Techniques and Application” Marcel
Dekker, Inc., New York, 2002
• 4. www.ndt.net 29

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