Tag: NDT

Particulate Radiation:

Particulate Radiation:
There are three types of Particulate Radiation and they are of little concern to the average radiographer.
Particulate Radiation is different from X and Gamma Rays they have mass and do not travel at the speed of light.
However, Particulate Radiation will penetrate matter, will case ionization and cannot be detected by human senses.
Alpha Radiation as discussed in Lesson 4 has a positive charge and is slow and heavy.
Alpha Particles ionize atoms by removing electrons as they pass but they do not penetrate deeply.
Beta Particles (High Speed Electrons) have a negative charge and because they are lightweight, they are not as ionizing alpha particles.
Neutron Radiation has peculiar penetrating qualities. It penetrates many heavy elements with ease and is absorbed readily by many lighter elements, particularly Hydrogen.

Surface contamination closes Discontinuity openings : Surface cleaning plays critical role for effective penetration testing

  • Any contamination such as oil, rust, scale, corrosion & different types of coatings and surface treatments cover the discontinuity opening and prevent entry of penetrant in to it.
  • To detect the discontinuities, test surface shall be free from above mentioned contamination, otherwise indications will not appear.

Advantages & Limitation of MPT

Advantages Of MPT:

1.Detects flaw below ¼” below surface.

  1. Detects flaw filled with foreign material.
  2. Detect defect below painted & platted surface.
  3. Immediate indication.
  4. Testing is possible up 300°C using dry powder.
  5. Indication can recorded.

Limitation of MPT :

1.Applicable to only ferromagnetic material only.

2.Limited depth of detection.

3.Depth & size is not indicated.

4.Sensitivity varies with surface roughness & position.

5.Sensitivity rapidly diminishes with depth.

Post Emulsifiable Penetration System

Post emulsifiable Penetration System:

Post emulsifiable lipophilic/ hydrophilic   methods  are  formulated  to  maximize   penetrating  and  visibility characteristics.    They  do  not  contain  any  emulsifying  agent in penetrant   and  cannot  be  completely  removed  with  plain  water.

Post emulsifiable lipophilic: Removal  is  made  possible  by  applying  an  emulsifier  in  a  separate  process  step after dwell time for penetrant.    This  converts  the  excess  surface penetrant into an water washable penetrant . This emulsifier uses diffusion method to convert penetrant in to water washable.

Post Emulsifiable Hydrophilic Method: The  hydrophilic postemulsifiable, method also uses penetrants requiring a separate emulsifier.  The penetrants are the same  as  those  used  in  the  lipophilic  method.    The  difference  between  hydrophilic  and  lipophilic  methods  is  in  the emulsifiers.    Hydrophilic  emulsifiers  are  water  soluble  emulsifiers  and  actually  remove  excess  surface  penetrant  by means of a scrubbing  action rather than diffusion action.

Water washable Penetration method

Water-Washable, is the most economical method & it has not replaceable for rough casting surface, threaded & key surfaces.

 

  1.  Water-washable or self-emulsifiable penetrants contain an emulsifier as an integral part of the formulation.
  2. The excess penetrant is  removed from the object surface with a simple water rinse.
  3. Penetrant materials have the property of forming relatively viscous gels upon contact with water, which results in the formation of gel-like plugs in surface openings.
  4. While they are completely soluble in water, given enough contact time, the plugs offer a brief period of protection against rapid wash removal. Thus, water-washable penetrant systems provide ease of use and a high level of sensitivity.

Step in Solvent removable method.

5. Inspection:

Inspection  with visible dye penetrant  with minimum whate light intensity 100 foot-candles or 1100 lux  shall follow. Ultraviolet (UV-A) radiation of minimum intensity 1,000 micro-watts per centimeter squared is common, along with low ambient light levels (less than 2 foot-candles) for fluorescent penetrant examinations. Inspection of the test surface should take place after 10- to 30-minute development time, and is dependent on the penetrant and developer used. This time delay allows the blotting action to occur. The inspector may observe the sample for indication formation when using visible dye. It is also good practice to observe indications as they form because the characteristics of the bleed out are a significant part of interpretation characterization of flaws.

6. Post Cleaning:

The test surface is often cleaned after inspection and recording of defects, especially if post-inspection coating processes are recommended as per PT procedure.

Penetrant test method

Penetrant Classification System
Penetrants Type:
Type 1 Fluorescent Dye
Type 2 Visible (Red) Dye

Removal Method:
Method A Water Washable
Method B Post Emulsifiable, lipophilic (oil base)
Method C Solvent
Method D Post Emulsifiable, hydrophilic (water base)

Removers
Class 1 Halogenated (non-flammable)
Class 2 Nonhalogenated (flammable)
Class 3 Special Application

Developers Form:
Form a Dry Powder
Form b Water Soluble
Form c Water Suspendable
Form d Nonaqueous Type 1 Fluorescent (solvent based)
Form e Nonaqueous Type 2 Visible (solvent based)
Form f Special Application
Fluorescent Sensitivity*
Level 1/2 Ultra Low
Level 1 Low
Level 2 Medium
Level 3 High
Level 4 Ultra High