National Certification Board

Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing

LIQUID PENETRANT TESTING PROCEDURE - I

1.

Scope :
This procedure covers Liquid Penetrant Inspection of the welds in ferrous steel
fabrication.

2.

Extent of Examination:
The final run inspection should also cover 1 inch area on either side of the weld.

3.

Material:
The materials to be used for this inspection are as follows:
Cleaner PC 21 Mfg. by P Met
Penetrant PP 15 Mfg. by P Met
Developer PD 31A Mfg. by P Met

4.

Surface Preparation:
The inspection area is to be cleaned sufficiently so as to be free of any grease, dirt,
oil, spatter, slag, etc. that would hide or mask the relevant indication using chemical
or mechanical means as appropriate.

5.

Penetrant Application:
The penetrant may be applied by spraying or brushing so as to cover the inspection
area only with a thin uniform layer. The temperature of the part should be within 100C
to 350C. The penetrant should remain on the job for minimum of 15 minutes and not
more than one hour.
Note: If penetrant dwell time exceeds one hour but is less than two hours, reapply the
penetrant and wait for the prescribed dwell time. If penetrant dwell time exceeds two hours,
the part is to be reprocessed.

6.

Penetrant Removal:
After dwell time excess penetrant is to be removed by means of lint free cloth. Care
should be taken to avoid excess dry wipes. After sufficient dry cleaning, the final
cleaning should be done using solvent moistened cloth, till very little background
penetrant is visible.

7.

Developer Application:
The developer should be applied so as to obtain a thin uniform white coating.

8.

Inspection:
An inspection is to be carried out in bright white light, after allowing for 7 minutes of
development time. The inspection must be over within 30 minutes of developer
application. Any indication considered to be non relevant or false are to be confirmed
by reprocess.

9.

Acceptance Criteria:

9.1

Evaluation of Indication:
a)

Indications having any dimension greater than 1/16 in (1.6 mm) shall be
considered relevant.

PT Level I Specific at INS Shivaji

Lonava 16th March 2010

P a g e 1 of 4

National Certification Board

Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing

9.2

b)

A linear indication is one having its length greater than 3 times the width
(L>3 W)

c)

A rounded indication is one of circular or elliptical shape with a length

equal to or less than 3 times its width (L 3 W)

Acceptance Standard:
All surfaces to be examined shall be free of a) Relevant linear indications.
b) Relevant rounded indication greater than 3 /16 inch (4.8 mm)
c) 4 or more relevant rounded indications in a line separated by 1/16 inch (1.6 mm)
or less, edge to edge.

10.

Post Cleaning:
Immediately after the recording of inspection results the test area to be cleaned
thoroughly by means of cloth and cleaner.
XXXX-X

PT Level I Specific at INS Shivaji

Lonava 16th March 2010

P a g e 2 of 4