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2.2 ASNT Standards: 4.3 Processing parameters, such as precleaning, penetration
Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A for Nondestructive time and wash times, are determined by the specific materials
Testing Personnel Qualification and Certification3 used, the nature of the part under examination (that is, size,
ANSI/ASNT-CP-189 Standard for Qualification and Certifi- shape, surface condition, alloy) and type of discontinuities
cation of NDT Personnel3 expected.
2.3 Other Standards:
ISO 9712 Non-destructive Testing—Qualification and Cer- 5. Significance and Use
tification of NDT Personnel—General Principles4 5.1 Liquid penetrant examination methods indicate the
AMS 2644 Inspection Material, Penetrant5 presence, location, and, to a limited extent, the nature and
2.4 AIA Standard: magnitude of the detected discontinuities. This practice is
NAS-410 Certification and Qualification of Nondestructive normally used for production examination of large volumes of
Test Personnel6 parts or structures, where emphasis is on productivity. This
2.5 DoD Contracts practice offers a wide latitude in applicability when extensive
Unless otherwise specified, the issue of the documents that and controlled conditions are available.
are DoD adopted are those listed in the issue of the
DoDISS (Department of Defense Index of Specifications 6. Reagents and Materials
and Standards) cited in the solicitation. 6.1 Visible, Water-Washable Liquid Penetrant Testing
2.6 Order of Precedence Materials, consisting of applicable visible penetrants as rec-
In the event of conflict between the text of this practice and ommended by the manufacturer, and are classified as Type II
the references cited herein, the text of this practice takes Visible Method A—Water-Washable (see Note 1). Penetrant
precedence. materials shall conform to AMS 2644 unless approved by the
contract or Level III. (Warning—While approved penetrant
3. Terminology materials will not adversely affect common metallic materials,
3.1 Definitions: some plastics or rubber may be swollen or stained by certain
3.1.1 The definitions relating to liquid penetrant examina- penetrants.)
tion that appear in Terminology E1316, shall apply to the terms NOTE 1—Refer to 8.1 for special requirements for sulfur, halogen, and
used in this practice. alkali metal content.
6.2 Water-Washable Penetrants, designed to be directly
4. Summary of Practice
water-washable from the surface of the part, after a suitable
4.1 A liquid penetrant is applied evenly over the surface penetrant dwell time. Because the emulsifier is “built-in” to the
being examined and allowed to enter open discontinuities. water-washable penetrant, it is extremely important to exercise
After a suitable dwell time, the excess surface penetrant is proper process control in removing excess penetrant to ensure
removed with water and the surface is dried prior to the against overwashing. Water-washable penetrants can be
application of a developer. A developer is then applied, washed out of discontinuities if the washing step is too long or
drawing the entrapped penetrant out of the discontinuities and too vigorous. Some penetrants are less resistant to overwashing
staining the developer. If an aqueous developer is to be than others.
employed, the developer is applied prior to the drying step.
6.3 Developers—Development of penetrant indications is
After application of the developer, a suitable development time
the process of bringing the penetrant out of open discontinui-
is allowed to permit the entrapped penetrant to exit from the
ties through the blotting action of the applied developer, thus
discontinuities. The test surface is then examined visually
increasing the visibility of the penetrant indications. The
under adequate illumination to determine the presence or
developer used shall provide a contrasting white background.
absence of indications.
Several types of developers are suitable for use in the visible
4.2 The selection of specific water-washable penetrant pro- penetrant water-washable process.
cess parameters depends upon the nature of the application, 6.3.1 Aqueous Developers, normally supplied as dry powder
conditions under which the examination is to be performed, particles to be either suspended or dissolved (soluble) in water.
availability of processing equipment, and type of materials to The concentration, use, and maintenance shall be in accordance
perform the examination. (Warning—A controlled method for with the manufacturer’s recommendations (see 7.1.7.1).
applying water and disposing of the water is essential.) (Warning—Aqueous developers may cause stripping of
indications, if not properly applied and controlled. The proce-
dure should be qualified in accordance with 9.2.)
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Available from The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), P.O. 6.3.2 Nonaqueous, Wet Developers, normally supplied as
Box 28518, 1711 Arlingate Lane, Columbus, OH 43228-0518.
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Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO suspensions of developer particles in a volatile solvent carrier
Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, and are ready for use as supplied. They are applied to the
Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
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surface by spraying after the excess penetrant has been
Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale,
removed and the surface has dried. Nonaqueous wet develop-
PA 15096, http://www.sae.org.
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Available from the Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc., 1250 ers form a white coating on the surface of the part when dried
Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. and serve as a contrasting background for visible penetrants
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(see 7.1.7.2). (Warning—This type of developer is intended cleaning solvents, vapor degreasing, or chemical removing
for application by spray only.) processes. Surface conditioning by grinding, machining,
6.3.3 Liquid Film Developers, solutions or colloidal suspen- polishing, or etching shall follow shot, sand, grit, and vapor
sions of resins/polymer in a suitable carrier. These developers blasting to remove the peened skin, and when penetrant
will form a transparent or translucent coating on the surface of entrapment in surface irregularities might mask the indications
the part. Certain types of film developers will fix indications of unacceptable discontinuities or otherwise interfere with the
and may be stripped from the part and retained for record effectiveness of the examination. For metals unless otherwise
purposes (see section 7.1.7.3). specified, perform etching when evidence exists that previous
cleaning, surface treatments, or service usage have produced a
7. Procedure surface condition that degrades the effectiveness of penetrant
7.1 The following general procedures applies to the water- examination. (See Annex A1.1.1.8 in Practice E165/E165M for
washable, visible penetrant examination method (see Fig. 1). precautions).
7.1.1 Temperature Limits—The temperature of the penetrant NOTE 2—When agreed between purchaser and supplier, grit blasting
materials and the surface of the part to be processed should be without subsequent etching may be an acceptable cleaning method.
from 40 to 125°F (4 to 52°C). When it is not practical to (Warning—Sand or shot blasting may possibly close indications and
comply with these temperature limitations, the procedure must extreme care should be used with grinding and machining operations.)
be qualified at the temperature of intended use as described in NOTE 3—For structural or electronic ceramics, surface preparation by
9.2. grinding, sand blasting and etching for penetrant examination is not
recommended because of the potential for damage.
7.1.2 Surface Conditioning Prior to Penetrant
Examination—Satisfactory results can usually be obtained on 7.1.3 Removal of Surface Contaminants:
surfaces in the as-welded, as-rolled, as-cast, or as-forged 7.1.3.1 Precleaning—The success of any penetrant exami-
conditions (or for ceramics in the densified condition). When nation procedure is greatly dependent upon the surface and
only loose surface residuals are present, these may be removed discontinuity being free of any contaminant (solid or liquid)
by wiping with a clean lint-free cloth. However, pre-cleaning that might interfere with the penetrant process. All parts or
of metals to remove processing residuals such as oil, graphite, areas of parts to be examined must be clean and dry before the
scale, insulating materials, coatings, etc. should be done using penetrant is applied. If only a section of a part, such as weld,
Incoming Parts
Spray Dip
Developer
DRY DEVELOP
Dry (Aqueous)
(See 7.1.6) (See 7.1.7)
Developer,
DEVELOP DRY Nonaqueous or
Dry
(See 7.1.7) (See 7.1.6) Liquid Film
EXAMINE
Visible (See 7.1.8) Examine
Mechanical
Water Rinse Detergent
Wash
POST CLEAN
(See 7.1.10 and Prac-
tice E165/E165M, An-
nex
on Post Cleaning.)
Dry
Vapor Ultrasonic
Solvent Soak
Degrease Clean
Outgoing Parts
FIG. 1 General Procedure Flowsheet for Visible Penetrant Examination Using the Water-Washable Process
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including the heat affected zone is to be examined, remove all be proper ventilation. This is generally accomplished through
contaminants from the area being examined as defined by the the use of a properly designed spray booth or exhaust system,
contracting parties.“ Clean” is intended to mean that the or both.)
surface must be free of rust, scale, welding flux, spatter, grease, 7.1.4.2 Penetrant Dwell Time—After application, allow ex-
paint, oily films, dirt, etc., that might interfere with penetration. cess penetrant to drain from the part (care should be taken to
All of these contaminants can prevent the penetrant from prevent pools of penetrant on the part), while allowing for
entering discontinuities. (See the annex on Cleaning of Parts proper penetrant dwell time (see Table 1). The length of time
and Materials in Practice E165/E165M for more detailed the penetrant must remain on the part to allow proper penetra-
cleaning methods.) (Warning—Residues from cleaning pro- tion should be as recommended by the penetrant manufacturer.
cesses such as strong alkalies, pickling solutions, and Table 1, however, provides a guide for selection of penetrant
chromates, in particular, may adversely react with the penetrant dwell times for a variety of materials, their form, and types of
and reduce its sensitivity and performance.) discontinuities.
7.1.3.2 Drying After Cleaning—It is essential that the sur- NOTE 4—For some specific applications in structural ceramics (for
faces be thoroughly dry after cleaning, since any liquid residue example, detecting parting lines in slip-cast material), the required
will hinder the entrance of the penetrant. Drying may be penetrant dwell time should be determined experimentally and may be
accomplished by warming the parts in drying ovens, with longer than that shown in Table 1 and its notes.
infrared lamps, forced hot or cold air, or by exposure to 7.1.5 Removal of Excess Penetrant—After the required
ambient temperature. penetration time, the excess penetrant on the surface being
7.1.4 Penetrant Applications—After the area to be exam- examined must be removed with water, usually a washing
ined has been cleaned, dried, and is within the specified operation. It can be washed off manually, by the use of
temperature range, apply the penetrant to the surface to be automatic or semi-automatic water-spray equipment or by
examined so that the entire part or area under examination is immersion. Accumulation of water in pockets or recesses of the
completely covered with penetrant. surface must be avoided. If the final rinse step is not effective,
7.1.4.1 Modes of Application—There are various modes of as evidenced by difficulty in removing the excess penetrant,
effective application of penetrant such as immersion, brushing, dry (see 7.1.6) and reclean the part, then reapply the penetrant
flooding, or spraying. Small parts are quite often placed in for the prescribed dwell time. (Warning—Avoid overwashing.
suitable baskets and dipped into a tank of penetrant. On larger Excessive washing can cause penetrant to be washed out of
parts, and those with complex geometries, penetrant can be discontinuities. )
applied effectively by brushing or spraying. Both conventional 7.1.5.1 Rinsing—For immersion rinsing, parts are com-
and electrostatic spray guns are appropriate means of applying pletely immersed in the water bath with air or mechanical
liquid penetrants to the part surfaces. Electrostatic spray agitation. Effective rinsing of water-washable penetrants by
application can eliminate excess liquid build-up of penetrant on spray application can be accomplished by either manual or
the surface, minimize overspray, and minimize the amount of automatic water-spray rinsing of the parts.
penetrant entering hollow-cored passages that might serve as (a) Maximum rinse time should be specified by part or
penetrant reservoirs, causing severe bleedout problems during material specification.
examination. Aerosol sprays are also very effective and a (b) The temperature of the water should be relatively
convenient portable means of application. (Warning—Not all constant and should be maintained within the range of 50 to
penetrant materials are suitable for electrostatic spray 100°F (10 to 38°C).
applications, so tests should be conducted prior to use.) (c) Spray rinse water pressure should not be greater than 40
(Warning—With spray applications, it is important that there psi (280 kPa).
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7.1.5.2 Removal by Wiping—In special applications, pen- carrier may be hazardous. Proper ventilation should be pro-
etrant removal may be performed by wiping the surface with a vided in all cases, but especially when the surface to be
clean, absorbent material dampened with water until the excess examined is inside a closed volume such as a process drum or
surface penetrant is removed, as determined by visual exami- a small storage tank.)
nation. This process shall be performed in accordance with 7.1.7.3 Liquid Film Developers—Apply by spraying or
E1219. A solvent cleaner may be used instead of water to wipe dipping as recommended by the manufacturer. Spray parts in
off excess penetrant. such a manner as to ensure complete coverage of the area being
7.1.6 Drying—During the preparation of parts for examined with a thin and even film of developer.
examination, drying is necessary following the application of 7.1.7.4 Developer Time—The length of time the developer
the aqueous developer or prior to applying nonaqueous wet is to remain on the part prior to examination should not be less
developers. Drying time will vary with the size, nature, and than 10 min. Developing time begins as soon as the wet
number of parts under examination. (aqueous and nonaqueous) developer coating is dry (that is, the
7.1.6.1 Modes of Drying—Parts can be dried by using a solvent carrier has evaporated to dryness). The maximum
hot-air recirculating oven, a hot- or cold-air blast, or by permitted developing times are 2 h for aqueous developers and
exposure to ambient temperature. Drying is best done in a 1 h for nonaqueous developers.
thermostatically controlled, recirculating hot-air dryer. 7.1.8 Examination—Perform examination of parts after the
(Warning—Drying oven temperature should not exceed 160°F applicable development time as specified in 7.1.7.4 to allow for
(71°C).) bleedout or penetrant from discontinuities onto the developer
7.1.6.2 Drying Time Limits—Do not allow parts to remain in coating. It is good practice to observe the surface while
the drying oven any longer than is necessary to dry the part. applying the developer as an aid in evaluating indications.
Excessive time in the dryer may impair the sensitivity of the 7.1.8.1 Visible Illuminance—Visible penetrant indications
examination. can be examined in either natural or artificial visible light.
7.1.7 Developer Application—There are various modes of Adequate illumination is required to ensure no loss of the
effective application of the various types of developers such as sensitivity of the examination. A minimum illuminance at the
immersing, flooding, or spraying. The size, configuration, examination site of 100 fc (1076 lux) is recommended.
surface condition, number of parts to be processed, etc., will 7.1.8.2 Housekeeping—Keep the examination area free of
influence the choice of developer application. interfering debris. Practice good housekeeping at all times.
7.1.7.1 Aqueous Developers—Apply aqueous developers to 7.1.9 Evaluation—Unless otherwise agreed upon, it is nor-
the part immediately after the excess penetrant has been mal practice to evaluate the discontinuity indication based on
removed from the part and prior to drying. The dried developer the size of the developer stain created by the developer’s
coating appears as a translucent or white coating on the part. absorption of the penetrant (see Reference Photographs E433).
Prepare and maintain aqueous developers in accordance with 7.1.10 Post Cleaning—Post cleaning is necessary in those
the manufacturer’s instructions and apply them in such a cases where residual penetrant or developer could interfere
manner as to ensure complete and even part coverage. Exercise with subsequent processing or with service requirements. It is
caution when using a wet developer with water-washable particularly important where residual penetrant examination
penetrants to avoid possible stripping of indications. Aqueous materials might combine with other factors in service to
developers may be applied by flowing, or immersing the part. produce corrosion. A suitable technique, such as machine
Atomized spraying is not recommended since a spotty film wash, vapor degreasing, solvent soak, or ultrasonic cleaning
may result. It is most common to immerse the parts in the may be employed (see the annex on post cleaning in Practice
prepared developer bath. Immerse parts only long enough to E165/E165M). In the case of developers, it is recommended
coat all of the part surfaces with the developer, since if parts are that if developer removal is necessary, carry it out as promptly
left in bath too long, penetrant entrapments may leach out. as possible after examination so that it does not fix on the part.
Immediately remove parts from the developer bath and allow (Warning—Developers should be removed prior to vapor
to drain. Drain all excess developer from recesses and trapped degreasing. Vapor degreasing can bake developer on parts.)
sections to eliminate developer pooling, that can obscure
discontinuities. Dry the parts in accordance with 7.1.6.
8. Special Requirements
7.1.7.2 Nonaqueous, Wet Developers—Nonaqueous, wet
developer carriers evaporate very rapidly at normal room 8.1 Impurities:
temperature and do not, therefore, require the use of a dryer. 8.1.1 When using penetrant materials on austenitic stainless
After the excess penetrant has been removed and the surface steels, titanium, nickel base, or other high-temperature alloys,
has been dried, apply these developers to the surface by the need to restrict impurities such as sulfur, halogens, and
spraying in such a manner as to ensure complete coverage with alkali metals must be considered. These impurities may cause
a thin even film of developer. Application of excessive devel- embrittlement or corrosion, particularly at elevated tempera-
oper should be avoided. Dipping or flooding parts with tures. Any such evaluation should include consideration of the
nonaqueous, wet developers is prohibited, since it will flush form in which the impurities are present. Some penetrant
(dissolve) the penetrant from within the discontinuities because materials contain significant amounts of these impurities in the
of the solvent action of these types of developers. (Warning— form of volatile organic solvents. These normally evaporate
The vapors from the evaporating, volatile, solvent developer quickly and usually do not cause problems. Other materials
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may contain impurities that are not volatile and may react with a reduced temperature during examination, special materials
the part, particularly in the presence of moisture or elevated and processing techniques may be required. Such examination
temperatures. requires qualification in accordance with 9.2. The manufactur-
8.1.2 Because volatile solvents leave the surface quickly er’s recommendations should be observed.
without reaction under normal inspection procedures, penetrant 9. Qualification and Requalification
materials are normally subjected to an evaporation procedure
to remove the solvents before the materials are analyzed for 9.1 Personnel Qualification—Personnel performing exami-
impurities. The residue from this procedure is then analyzed in nations to this standard shall be qualified in accordance with a
accordance with Practice D129, Test Method D1552, or Prac- nationally or internationally recognized NDT personnel quali-
tice D129 for decomposition followed by Method B (Turbidi- fication practice or standard such as ANSI/ASNT-CP-189,
metric Method) of Test Methods D516 for sulfur. The residue SNT-TC-1A, NAS-410, ISO 9712, or a similar document and
may also be analyzed in accordance with Test Method D808 or certified by the employer or certifying agency, as applicable.
the annex on methods for measuring total chlorine content in The practice or standard used and its applicable revision shall
combustible liquid penetrant materials in Practice E165/ be identified in the contractual agreement between the using
E165M (for halogens other than fluorine) and the annex on parties.
method for measuring total fluorine content in combustible 9.2 Procedure Qualification—Qualification of procedures
liquid penetrant materials in Practice E165/E165M (for fluo- using times or conditions differing from those specified or for
rine). The Annex on Determination of Anions and Cations by new materials may be performed by any of several methods
Ion Chromatography in Practice E165/E165M can be used as and should be agreed upon by the contracting parties. A test
an alternate procedure. Alkali metals in the residue are deter- piece containing one or more discontinuities of the smallest
mined by flame photometry or atomic absorption spectropho- relevant size is used. The test piece may contain real or
tometry. simulated discontinuities, providing it displays the character-
NOTE 5—Some current standards indicate that impurity levels of sulfur
istics of the discontinuities encountered in production exami-
and halogens exceeding 1 % of any one suspect element are considered nations.
excessive. However, this high a level may be unacceptable for some 9.3 Nondestructive Testing Agency Qualification—If a non-
applications, so the actual maximum acceptable impurity level must be
decided between supplier and user on a case by case basis.
destructive testing agency as described in Practice E543 is used
to perform the examination, the agency shall meet the require-
8.2 Elevated Temperature Examination—Where penetrant ments of Practice E543.
examination is performed on parts that must be maintained at
elevated temperature during examination, special materials and 9.4 Requalification may be required when a change or
processing techniques may be required. Such examination substitution is made in the type of penetrant materials or in the
requires qualification in accordance with 9.2. The manufactur- procedure (see 9.2).
er’s recommendations should be observed. 10. Keywords
8.3 Reduced Temperature Examination—Where penetrant 10.1 nondestructive testing; visible liquid penetrant testing;
examination is performed on parts that must be maintained at water-washable method
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