When performing the various methods of nondestructive testing, the way you begin can often determine whether or not the inspection successfully indicates the presence or absence of a flaw.
If you want to perform accurate testing the first time, make sure that your assets are properly prepared before you begin testing.
To get it right from step one, here is what you need to know about the preparation measures needed before liquid penetrant testing.
There are some methods of nondestructive testing that require little preparation before testing can commence. In these cases, a simple cleaning of the component under inspection will suffice, and no extraneous factors should impede the ability to inspect.
In other circumstances, such as when liquid penetrant testing is the chosen method, more extensive measures must be taken to prepare the asset and ensure that the inspection is performed successfully.
While preparation -- what happens before the inspection is performed -- may seem like an unimportant task, poorly preparing the asset for inspection could spell disaster.
In the best case scenario, a faulty test means a delay to inspect the component again, which could cost you or your client valuable time and money.
In the worst case scenario, a poorly performed inspection could mean that a crack or flaw goes unnoticed, which can lead to outages or failures and can even result in serious danger like fallen light poles, which can be deadly.
Liquid penetrant testing is one of the most commonly used methods of nondestructive testing.
Liquid penetrant testing is a method that uses the property of capillary action to determine whether or not a flaw is present in the component under inspection.
After carefully and thoroughly cleaning the asset, a low-viscosity liquid is applied to the surface of the part. Capillary action will allow any excess liquid to flow into flaws and inconsistencies in the asset. After a dwelling time, the excess penetrant is removed and the remaining penetrant will flow out, indicating whether or not there are flaws.
Liquid penetrant testing is a commonly chosen inspection method for a number of reasons. In general, liquid penetrant testing is fairly easy to perform, even for newer technicians. It is highly portable, and part geometry does not affect the performance of the test. Unlike magnetic particle testing, where the material must be ferromagnetic, the asset’s material does not have to be specific.
Some of the disadvantages of liquid penetrant testing, however, are primarily related to the needs for significant cleaning before testing can be performed. Without a very clean part, liquid penetrant testing cannot be performed, and the cleanup required after liquid penetrant testing can also be taxing.
For nondestructive testing technicians, every part of the inspection must be performed properly to ensure safety and efficiency for all assets.
Learn about liquid penetrant testing and many others at a high-quality NDT training institute.
If you are looking for nondestructive testing services to protect your assets or to become a technician yourself through NDT technician training, it’s crucial to choose the right NDT training institute to meet your NDT needs.
TXNDT is a cut above the rest with superior NDT courses, knowledgeable instructors, and hands-on coursework to prepare all emerging technicians for NDT certification. Check us out online or give us a call today at 281-231-0001 to see how TXNDT can work for you!
