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ABSTRACT
Detection and localisation of surface discontinuities are a major requirement to ensure the safe and reliable operation of equipment, given that more than half of in-service failures are due to the gradual development of open-to-surface discontinuities. This paper deals with the theoretical aspects, the processing techniques, materials and equipment to perform penetrant testing. It is not its apparent easiness that makes this testing method so successful, but its overall performance and its scope of applications, which are described while setting its limitations.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Pierre CHEMIN: European engineering degree from the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, de Biologie et de Physique in Bordeaux (France) - Bachelor of Science - Former penetrant and magnetic particle testing Product Manager Société française d'électrophysique (Sofranel), Sartrouville, France
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Patrick DUBOSC: Chemist - Former Technical Director of BabbCo, Plaisir, France
INTRODUCTION
First introduced at the end of the 19th century, penetrant testing is constantly undergoing new developments aimed at increasing the probability of detecting discontinuities, and improving hygiene, safety and environmental protection conditions. Penetrant testing materials, accessories and equipment are constantly being perfected to achieve a high level of performance, while taking into account operators' concerns in terms of ergonomics.
Penetrant testing is the most widely used non-destructive testing (NDT) method on metal alloys and a certain number of non-metallic materials for detecting and locating open to-surface and through-going discontinuities on the surface of the part to be examined.
Used in all industrial sectors virtually anywhere except underwater, on site or in the workshop, in manufacturing or maintenance, in environments at –25 °C or +50 °C, on parts up to 200 °C, penetrant testing offers a flexibility and versatility that few other NDT methods can claim. Like all other NDT methods, penetrant testing has its own limitations.
Penetrant testing, which some had predicted would disappear before the year 2000, remains the most widely used method (after visual inspection, however) compared to all other NDT methods.
UV-A lighting sources with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have largely replaced those with mercury vapour bulbs, which are toxic to both humans and the aquatic environment.
One of the criticisms often raised about penetrant testing is the use of chemicals. If regulations on conditions of use and discharges (gaseous or liquid) are followed, operators' health and the environment are protected.
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KEYWORDS
materials | maintenance | manufacturing | Open-to-surface discontinuities | Viewing conditions
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Penetrant testing
Penetrant testing: definition and principle
Bibliography
Events
COFREND Days (French Confederation for Non-Destructive Testing) take place every three years in a French city chosen by COFREND. Those celebrating COFREND's 50th anniversary took place from May 30 to 1 er June 2017 at the Palais des Congrès in Strasbourg. The COFREND 2020 Days were cancelled due to the health and economic context, which had a strong impact on event activities in France....
Websites
CHEMIN Pierre and DUBOSC Patrick – 190 articles on penetrant testing and magnetic particle inspection, in French and English (2020):
https://membres.isgroupe.com/actualite/web/ressuage-26122020
Penetrant Testing Blog:
Standards
- Non-destructive testing – Terminology – Part 1: List of general terms - EN 1330-1 - 2015
- Non-destructive testing – Terminology – Part 2: Terms common to the non-destructive testing methods - EN 1330-2 - 1999
- Non-destructive testing – Penetrant testing – Vocabulary - ISO 12706 - 2010
- Non-destructive testing – Penetrant testing and magnetic particle testing – Viewing conditions - ISO 3059 - 2013
- Non-destructive...
Directory
NDT Resource Center, Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. Penetrant testing
CHEMIN Pierre and DUBOSC Patrick – 190 articles on penetrant testing and magnetic particle inspection, in French and English (2020):
https://membres.isgroupe.com/actualite/web/ressuage-26122020
...Statistical and economic data
1. COFREND certification
Penetrant testing is the NDT method with the highest number of certified agents worldwide. The results for 2020 are as follows.
The statistics presented in this document are based on data extracted from GERICCO, the COFREND certification management tool. This tool is constantly updated by COFREND-approved examination centres as candidates...
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